om Edouard to Rose, telling her he
had found his uncle crusty at first; but at last with a little patience,
and the co-operation of Martha, his uncle's old servant, and his nurse,
the old boy had come round. They might look on the affair as all but
settled.

The contents of this letter were conveyed to the baroness. The house
brightened under it: the more so that there was some hope of their
successful champion returning in person next day. Meantime Perrin had
applied to Raynal for the immediate loan of a large sum of money on
excellent security. Raynal refused plump. Perrin rode away disconsolate.

But the next day he returned to the charge with another proposal: and
the nature of this second proposal we shall learn from events.

The day Edouard was expected opened deliciously. It was a balmy morning,
and tempted the sisters out before breakfast. They strolled on the
south terrace with their arms round each other's waists, talking about
Edouard, and wondering whether they should really see him before night.
Rose owned she had missed him, and confessed for the first time she was
a proud and happy girl.

"May I tell him so?" asked Josephine.

"Not for all the world. Would you dare?"

Further discussion of that nice point was stopped by the baroness coming
out, leaning on Dr. Aubertin.

Then--how we young people of an unceremonious age should have
stared--the demoiselles de Beaurepaire, inasmuch as this was their
mother's first appearance, lowered their fair heads at the same time
like young poplars bowing to the wind, and so waited reverently till she
had slightly lifted her hands, and said, "God bless you, my children!"

It was done in a moment on both sides, but full of grace and piety, and
the charm of ancient manners.

"How did our dear mother sleep?" inquired Josephine. Aubertin interposed
with a theory that she slept very well indeed if she took what he gave
her.

"Ay, IF," suggested Rose, saucily.

"I slept," said the baroness, "and I wish I had not for I dreamed an
ugly dream." They all gathered round her, and she told her dream.

"I thought I was with you all in this garden. I was admiring the flowers
and the trees, and the birds were singing with all their might. Suddenly
a dark cloud came; it cleared almost directly; but flowers, trees, sky,
and birds were gone now, and I could see the chateau itself no more. It
means that I was dead. An ugly dream, my children, an ugly dream."

"But only a dre