chever you shall decree? I have spoken
to Amelie tonight of you!"

"O do not press me, Le Gardeur!" exclaimed she, violently agitated,
anxious to evade the question she saw burning on his lips, and
distrustful of her own power to refuse; "not now! not to-night! Another
day you shall know how much I love you, Le Gardeur! Why will not men
content themselves with knowing we love them, without stripping our
favors of all grace by making them duties, and in the end destroying our
love by marrying us?" A flash of her natural archness came over her face
as she said this.

"That would not be your case or mine, Angelique," replied he, somewhat
puzzled at her strange speech. But she rose up suddenly without
replying, and walked to a buffet, where stood a silver salver full of
refreshments. "I suppose you have feasted so magnificently at Belmont
that you will not care for my humble hospitalities," said she, offering
him a cup of rare wine, a recent gift of the Intendant,--which she did
not mention, however. "You have not told me a word yet of the grand
party at Belmont. Pierre Philibert has been highly honored by the
Honnetes Gens I am sure!"

"And merits all the honor he receives! Why were you not there too,
Angelique? Pierre would have been delighted," replied he, ever ready to
defend Pierre Philibert.

"And I too! but I feared to be disloyal to the Fripponne!" said she,
half mockingly. "I am a partner in the Grand Company you know, Le
Gardeur! But I confess Pierre Philibert is the handsomest man--except
one--in New France. I own to THAT. I thought to pique Amelie one day by
telling her so, but on the contrary I pleased her beyond measure! She
agreed without excepting even the one!"

"Amelie told me your good opinions of Pierre, and I thanked you for it!"
said he, taking her hand. "And now, darling, since you cannot with wine,
words, or winsomeness divert me from my purpose in making you declare
what you think of me also, let me tell you I have promised Amelie to
bring her your answer to-night!"

The eyes of Le Gardeur shone with a light of loyal affection. Angelique
saw there was no escaping a declaration. She sat irresolute and
trembling, with one hand resting on his arm and the other held up
deprecatingly. It was a piece of acting she had rehearsed to herself
for this foreseen occasion. But her tongue, usually so nimble and free,
faltered for once in the rush of emotions that well-nigh overpowered
her. To become the h