. "Would she were like you,
Amelie, in all things!" said he. "I will put some of your flowers in her
hair to-night for your sake, sister."

"And for her own! May they be for you both an augury of good! Mind and
return home, Le Gardeur, after your visit. I shall sit up to await your
arrival, to congratulate you;" and, after a pause, she added, "or to
console you, brother!"

"Oh, no fear, sister!" replied he, cheeringly. "Angelique is true as
steel to me. You shall call her my betrothed tomorrow! Good-by! And now
go dance with all delight till morning." He kissed her and departed for
the city, leaving her in the ball-room by the side of the Lady de Tilly.

Amelie related to her aunt the result of her conversation with Le
Gardeur, and the cause of his leaving the fete so abruptly. The Lady de
Tilly listened with surprise and distress. "To think," said she, "of
Le Gardeur asking that terrible girl to marry him! My only hope is, she
will refuse him. And if it be as I hear, I think she will!"

"It would be the ruin of Le Gardeur if she did, aunt! You cannot think
how determined he is on this marriage."

"It would be his ruin if she accepted him!" replied the Lady de Tilly.
"With any other woman Le Gardeur might have a fair chance of happiness;
but none with her! More than one of her lovers lies in a bloody grave
by reason of her coquetries. She has ruined every man whom she has
flattered into loving her. She is without affection. Her thoughts are
covered with a veil of deceit impenetrable. She would sacrifice the
whole world to her vanity. I fear, Amelie, she will sacrifice Le Gardeur
as ruthlessly as the most worthless of her admirers."

"We can only hope for the best, aunt; and I do think Angelique loves Le
Gardeur as she never loved any other."

They were presently rejoined by Pierre Philibert. The Lady de Tilly and
Amelie apologized for Le Gardeur's departure,--he had been compelled to
go to the city on an affair of urgency, and had left them to make his
excuses. Pierre Philibert was not without a shrewd perception of the
state of affairs. He pitied Le Gardeur, and excused him, speaking most
kindly of him in a way that touched the heart of Amelie. The ball went
on with unflagging spirit and enjoyment. The old walls fairly vibrated
with the music and dancing of the gay company.

The music, like the tide in the great river that night, reached its
flood only after the small hours had set in. Amelie had given her
han