f person
and of mind? How would it be possible to listen, unmoved, to a voice
which is clearer and purer than crystal? Ah! my mother's descriptions
fell far short of the truth. But how can one describe the perfections of
an angel? To any one who has the happiness or the misfortune of knowing
you, there can only be one woman in the world!"

He had gradually approached her chair, and now extended his hand to take
hold of Marguerite's, and probably raise it to his lips. But she shrank
from the contact as from red-hot iron, and rising hurriedly, with her
eyes flashing, and her voice quivering with indignation: "Monsieur!" she
exclaimed, "Monsieur!"

He was so surprised that he stood as if petrified, with his eyes wide
open and his hand still extended. "Permit me--allow me to explain," he
stammered. But she declined to listen. "Who has told you that you could
address such words to me with impunity?" she continued. "Your parents,
I suppose; I daresay they told you to be bold. And that is why they have
left us, and why no servant has appeared. Ah! they make me pay dearly
for the hospitality they have given me!" As she spoke the tears started
from her eyes and glistened on her long lashes. "Whom did you fancy you
were speaking to?" she added. "Would you have been so audacious if I had
a father or a brother to resent your insults?"

The lieutenant started as if he had been lashed with a whip. "Ah! you
are severe!" he exclaimed.

And a happy inspiration entering his mind, he continued: "A man does not
insult a woman, mademoiselle, when, while telling her that he loves her
and thinks her beautiful, he offers her his name and life."

Mademoiselle Marguerite shrugged her shoulders ironically, and remained
for a moment silent. She was very proud, and her pride had been cruelly
wounded; but reason told her that a continuation of this scene would
render a prolonged sojourn in the General's house impossible; and where
could she go, without exciting malevolent remarks? Whom could she ask
an asylum of? Still this consideration alone would not have sufficed to
silence her. But she remembered that a quarrel and a rupture with the
Fondeges would certainly imperil the success of her plans. "So I will
swallow even this affront," she said to herself; and then in a tone of
melancholy bitterness, she remarked, aloud: "A man cannot set a very
high value on his name when he offers it to a woman whom he knows
absolutely nothing about."

"Excu