nd if she could, she would gladly avoid the angry flash
of those dark, pure eyes.

The organ was pealing the last notes of the Doxology, and the voices of
the choristers seemed to reecho from the depths of eternity the words,
"in saecula saeculorum," when Angelique rose up suddenly to leave the
church.

Her irreverent haste caused those about her to turn their heads at the
slight confusion she made, Amelie among the rest, who recognized at once
the countenance of Angelique, somewhat flushed and irritated, as she
strove vainly, with the help of La Force, to get out of the throng of
kneeling people who covered the broad floor of the Cathedral.

Amelie deemed it a fortunate chance to meet Angelique so
opportunely--just when her desire to do so was strongest. She caught her
eye, and made her a quick sign to stay, and approaching her, seized her
hands in her old, affectionate way.

"Wait a few moments, Angelique," said she, "until the people depart. I
want to speak to you alone. I am so fortunate to find you here."

"I will see you outside, Amelie. The Sieur La Force is with me, and
cannot stay." Angelique dreaded an interview with Amelie.

"No, I will speak to you here. It will be better here in God's temple
than elsewhere. The Sieur La Force will wait for you if you ask him; or
shall I ask him?" A faint smile accompanied these words of Amelie, which
she partly addressed to La Force.

La Force, to Angelique's chagrin, understanding that Amelie desired him
to wait for Angelique outside, at once offered to do so.

"Or perhaps," continued Amelie, offering her hand, "the Sieur La Force,
whom I am glad to see, will have the politeness to accompany the Lady de
Tilly, while I speak to Mademoiselle des Meloises?"

La Force was all compliance. "He was quite at the service of the
ladies," he said politely, "and would esteem it an honor to accompany
the noble Lady de Tilly."

The Lady de Tilly at once saw through the design of her niece. She
acceded to the arrangement, and left the Cathedral in company with the
Sieur La Force, whom she knew as the son of an old and valued friend.

He accompanied her home, while Amelie, holding fast to the arm of
Angelique until the church was empty of all but a few scattered devotees
and penitents, led her into a side chapel, separated from the body of
the church by a screen of carved work of oak, wherein stood a small
altar and a reliquary with a picture of St. Paul.

The seclusion of t