self unable to deny the charge. "Then let me tell
you, that of all the young women of whom I ever heard, you are the
most deceitful," continued Madame Staubach.

"Do not say that, aunt Charlotte; pray, do not say that."

"But I do say it. Oh, that it should have come to this between you
and me!"

"I have not deceived you. Indeed I have not. I don't want to see
Ludovic again; never, if you do not wish it. I haven't said a word
to him. Oh, aunt, pray believe me. I have never spoken a word to
him;--in the way of what you mean."

"Will you consent to marry Peter Steinmarc?" Linda hesitated a moment
before she answered. "Tell me, Miss; will you promise to take Peter
Steinmarc as your husband?"

"I cannot promise that, aunt Charlotte."

"Then I will never forgive you,--never. And God will never forgive
you. I did not think it possible that my sister's child should have
been so false to me."

"I have not been false to you," said Linda through her tears.

"And such a terrible young man, too; one who drinks, and gambles,
and is a rebel; one of whom all the world speaks ill; a penniless
spendthrift, to whom no decent girl would betroth herself. But,
perhaps, you are to be his light-of-love!"

"It is a shame,--a great shame,--for you to say--such things," said
Linda, sobbing bitterly. "No, I won't wait, I must go. I would sooner
be dead than hear you say such things to me. So I would. I can't help
it, if it's wicked. You make me say it." Then Linda escaped from the
room, and went up to her bed; and on the next morning she was too ill
either to eat her breakfast or to go to church.

Of course she saw nothing of Peter on that morning; but she heard the
creaking of his shoes as he went forth after his morning meal, and I
fear that her good wishes for his Sunday work did not go with him on
that Sabbath morning. Three or four times her aunt was in her room,
but to her aunt Linda would say no more than that she was sick and
could not leave her bed. Madame Staubach did not renew the revilings
which she had poured forth so freely on the preceding evening, partly
influenced by Linda's headache, and partly, perhaps, by a statement
which had been made to her by Tetchen as to the amount of love-making
which had taken place. "Lord bless you, ma'am, in any other house
than this it would go for nothing. Over at Jacob Heisse's, among his
girls, it wouldn't even have been counted at all,--such a few words
as that. Just the compliments