ine--you pass all understanding.
I shall write to Quintin that the sooner you are married the better it
will be for all."

"Uncle Quintin has left that matter to my own deciding," Aline reminded
her.

"That," said madame with complete conviction, "is the last and most
outrageous of his errors. Who ever heard of a girl being left to decide
the matter of her own marriage? It is... indelicate almost to expose her
to thoughts of such things." Mme. de Sautron shuddered. "Quintin is a
boor. His conduct is unheard of. That M. de La Tour d'Azyr should parade
himself before you so that you may make up your mind whether he is the
proper man for you!" Again she shuddered. "It is of a grossness, of...
of a prurience almost... Mon Dieu! When I married your uncle, all this
was arranged between our parents. I first saw him when he came to sign
the contract. I should have died of shame had it been otherwise. And
that is how these affairs should be conducted."

"You are no doubt right, madame. But since that is not how my own case
is being conducted, you will forgive me if I deal with it apart from
others. M. de La Tour d'Azyr desires to marry me. He has been permitted
to pay his court. I should be glad to have him informed that he may
cease to do so."

Mme. de Sautron stood still, petrified by amazement. Her long face
turned white; she seemed to breathe with difficulty.

"But... but... what are you saying?" she gasped.

Quietly Aline repeated her statement.

"But this is outrageous! You cannot be permitted to play fast-and-loose
with a gentleman of M. le Marquis' quality! Why, it is little more than
a week since you permitted him to be informed that you would become his
wife!"

"I did so in a moment of... rashness. Since then M. le Marquis' own
conduct has convinced me of my error."

"But--mon Dieu!" cried the Countess. "Are you blind to the great honour
that is being paid you? M. le Marquis will make you the first lady in
Brittany. Yet, little fool that you are, and greater fool that Quintin
is, you trifle with this extraordinary good fortune! Let me warn you."
She raised an admonitory forefinger. "If you continue in this stupid
humour M. de La Tour d'Azyr may definitely withdraw his offer and depart
in justified mortification."

"That, madame, as I am endeavouring to convey to you, is what I most
desire."

"Oh, you are mad."

"It may be, madame, that I am sane in preferring to be guided by my
instincts. It may be eve