ld a blunt
soul like Hugh Tryon know regarding the best or worst time to seek a
woman's heart? He came close to her now and said: "If you are so kind in
thought for a convict, I dare hope that you would be more kind to me."

"Be kind to you," she repeated, as if not understanding what he said,
nor the look in his eyes.

"For I am a prisoner, too."

"A prisoner?" she rejoined a little tremulously, and coldly.

"In your hands, Marie." His eyes laid bare his heart.

"Oh!" she replied, in a half-troubled, half-indignant tone, for she was
out of touch with the occasion of his suit, and every woman has in her
mind the time when she should and when she should not be wooed. "Oh, why
aren't you plain with me? I hate enigmas."

"Why do I not speak plainly? Because, because, Marie, it is possible for
a man to be a coward in his speech"--he touched her fingers--"when he
loves." She quickly drew her hand from his. "Oh, can't we be friends
without that?"

There was a sound of footsteps at the window. Both turned, and saw the
political prisoner, Rive Laflamme, followed by a guard.

"He comes to finish my portrait," she said. "This is the last sitting."

"Marie, must I go like this? When may I see you again? When will you
answer me? You will not make all the hopes to end here?"

It was evident that some deep trouble was on the girl. She flushed
hotly, as if she were about to reply hotly also, but she changed
quickly, and said, not unkindly: "When M. Laflamme has gone." And now,
as if repenting of her unreasonable words of a moment before, she added:
"Oh, please don't think me hard. I am sorry that I grieve you. I'm
afraid I am not altogether well, not altogether happy."

"I will wait till he has gone," the planter replied. At the door he
turned as if to say something, but he only looked steadily, sadly at
her, and then was gone.

She stood where he had left her, gazing in melancholy abstraction at the
door through which he had passed. There were footsteps without in the
hall-way. The door was opened, and a servant announced M. Laflamme. The
painter-prisoner entered followed by the soldier. Immediately afterward
Mrs. Angers, Marie's elderly companion, sidled in gently.

Laflamme bowed low, then turned and said coolly to the soldier: "You
may wait outside to-day, Roupet. This is my last morning's work. It
is important, and you splutter and cough. You are too exhausting for a
studio."

But Roupet answered: "Monsieur, I ha