f vague forebodings.

"I hear, my love," said the lady, putting her arm around the girl's slight
waist, as they sat together, "that a great honor has been offered you this
morning."

Odalite looked up, uneasily.

"Do you understand me, darling?" the lady inquired, gently pressing the
form of her child, and gazing fondly in her face.

"I--I--think I know what you allude to, mamma; but--I did not consider it
an honor," faltered the girl, dropping her eyes.

"Col. Anglesea has offered you his hand. Is it not so?"

"Yes, mamma."

"Col. Anglesea is a gentleman of the highest social position. I
congratulate you, my darling."

"But, mother! mother!" Odalite exclaimed in alarm. "I have declined Col.
Anglesea's offer!"

"Have you, my dear? Then you acted very hastily and inconsiderately. You
will think better of it and accept it," said the lady, very gravely.

"Oh, no, no, mamma! Never! never! How could I think of doing such a thing,
when I am on the very eve of marriage with Le?"

"My daughter, you were too hasty in that matter also. That childish
engagement--which was no binding one, after all--need not and must not
prevent your forming a more desirable union with Col. Anglesea," urged the
lady, almost in the very words used by the colonel himself when pressing
his suit with Odalite.

"Oh, mother! mother! surely you do not advocate----Oh, mother! mother!
Spare me! Do not urge me into such a dreadful act!" exclaimed the girl,
starting up in a wild excitement.

"Sit down and calm yourself, my dear child, and listen to me."

Odalite threw herself on the sofa, and buried her face in its cushions.

"Col. Anglesea belongs to one of the noblest families in the north of
England," continued the lady. "He is a neighbor and friend of my father.
He can give you a high position among the landed gentry of England."

"But, oh, mother! dear mother! dear mother! I do not want a high position
anywhere! and especially in a foreign country, where I should be separated
from you and father and my little sisters!" sobbed the girl, with her face
down in the cushions.

"But, my dear, you are very young, and you do not know what is good for
you. I, your mother, so much older, so much more experienced, surely do
know what is best for your happiness. And, Odalite, I have set my heart on
your marriage with this gentleman. If you should persist in your rejection
of his suit I should be more than disappointed; I should be deeply
grieved