command over
himself, although he certainly was somewhat puzzled at the blank
expression of her face at that moment.

"I would apologise to you, my dear aunt," said he, "for allowing myself
to be caught at such a very sentimental crisis, but that I know that it
is to you and no one else that I owe my happiness at this moment,
and----"

He stopped short, for the blank look had suddenly changed into one so
fiercely angry that anything further in the way of complimentary
speeches was not to be thought of, and a dead pause ensued.

"Leave us, Mademoiselle Lacroix!" cried Madame de Valricour vehemently.
Marguerite hesitated, her reluctance to leave Isidore alone in so
painful a dilemma, overcoming even her habitual deference to Madame de
Valricour; but Isidore, who felt that he should be more free to speak
or act if unembarrassed by her presence, quietly led her away from the
spot. Then, after raising her hand to his lips, he returned to the
baroness and addressed her thus--

"I am utterly at a loss to understand you, my aunt--you, to whom I was
about to offer my warmest thanks for so kindly smoothing the way to my
union with Mademoiselle Lacroix."

"I!" exclaimed the baroness, apparently forgetting her indignation for
a moment in her amazement. "I! Who says this? It is false! There is
some ridiculous mistake here--or rather some shameful trick. You have
not dared, sir, to make the girl believe that----"

"Calm yourself, my good aunt," replied Isidore, interrupting her. "As
for trick or deception, I shall not insult either you or myself by
further noticing words spoken in a hasty moment. As for any mistake,
you or my father must answer for that, if there is any. He tells me
you have written to him on the subject, and he has expressed his
approval of my choice."

"It is false, absolutely false!" exclaimed the baroness, passionately.
"When--where has the marquis told you this? Show me the letter. It is
a cheat which you would put both upon me and this girl. Show me the
letter, I say!"

"If Madame de Valricour doubts my word," answered Isidore haughtily,
"she will have to satisfy herself elsewhere. I am not in the habit of
substantiating my assertions."

"I say again it is false," reiterated the incensed baroness, forgetting
her usual caution. "I wrote to your father about you and Clotilde. Do
you dare to tell me that he has bidden you to marry some one else? If
you are not a base and unworthy trick