o, gracious sir," answered the young man perfectly unembarrassed, "I
have not the honour of being known to you; I am now come to this
neighbourhood for the first time, to make some purchases, my name is
Montan, or simply William, as I am called by the neighbours and by my
father, who is owner of the mill in the deep valley beyond Saumiere."

"Therefore a praiseworthy miller's lad!" said the priest. "It was not
sung to you in your cradle that you should ever sit at table in such
company as this." "No, indeed," said the miller with emotion; "when I
stood before the house, I thought not to find a reception as from the
venerable patriarchs we read of in the Holy Scriptures, I did not
expect to be introduced to a nobleman, who, to my mind and imagination,
presents the most sublime picture of Abraham and Jacob." He wiped his
eyes, and as they were about to rise from table, he lifted his glass,
and said, "pray allow me first, honoured sirs, to empty this glass in
token of my most heartfelt gratitude, and to the unalloyed happiness of
our respected host, and the endless prosperity of his noble house." He
drank, and the old Lord bowed not without emotion, while Edmond and the
priest looked at each other long and enquiringly. The huntsman scraped
and smiled, and the priest in his astonishment forgot to drink.

They rose from table, and Eveline seated herself again by the side of
her favorite in a corner of the room, and said to him, "That is the
right way, he is too haughty if one allows him to go on."

Her father approached them, "my child, it is now quite time for you to
retire to bed." "Indeed papa," answered she kissing his hand, "I should
like to remain longer here, but there must be order, as you always say;
I am obedient and will be your comfort, shall I not? it would indeed be
very wicked, and I should vex you, if I turned a prophet like so many
other children in this country." "God bless you, my love," said the old
man resting his hand upon her head; "go to bed, and you, my friend, sit
down here and rest yourself some time longer," said he, pressing the
young miller's hand; when Eveline perceived her father's kindness
towards him, she quickly returned, and throwing herself on the neck of
the young man, kissed him repeatedly, then drawing back a little, she
curtsied gracefully, and in a lady-like manner, and waving her hand,
said: "Au revoir," and followed the domestic who consigned her to her
maid.

"As you are from S