men can
be spared to return home. But what says Pierre Philibert to the order
despatching him to Tilly? You have seen him since?"

Amelie blushed a little as she replied, "Yes, I have seen him; he is
well content, I think, to see Tilly once more in your company, brother."

"And in yours, sister!--Why blush, Amelie? Pierre is worthy of you,
should he ever say to you what I so vainly said last night to Angelique
des Meloises!" Le Gardeur held her tightly by the hand.

Her face was glowing scarlet,--she was in utter confusion. "Oh, stop,
brother! Don't say such things! Pierre never uttered such thoughts to
me!--never will, in all likelihood!"

"But he will! And, my darling sister, when Pierre Philibert shall say he
loves you and asks you to be his wife, if you love him, if you pity me,
do not say him nay!" She was trembling with agitation, and without power
to reply. But Le Gardeur felt her hand tighten upon his. He comprehended
the involuntary sign, drew her to him, kissed her, and left the topic
without pressing it further; leaving it in the most formidable shape to
take deep root in the silent meditations of Amelie.

The rest of the day passed in such sunshine as Amelie could throw over
her brother. Her soft influence retained him at home: she refreshed him
with her conversation and sympathy, drew from him the pitiful story of
his love and its bitter ending. She knew the relief of disburdening his
surcharged heart; and to none but his sister, from whom he had never had
a secret until this episode in his life, would he have spoken a word of
his heart's trouble.

Numerous were the visitors to-day at the hospitable mansion of the Lady
de Tilly; but Le Gardeur would see none of them except Pierre Philibert,
who rode over as soon as he was relieved from his military attendance at
the Castle of St. Louis.

Le Gardeur received Pierre with an effusion of grateful
affection--touching, because real. His handsome face, so like Amelie's,
was peculiarly so when it expressed the emotions habitual to her;
and the pleasure both felt in the presence of Pierre brought out
resemblances that flashed fresh on the quick, observant eye of Pierre.

The afternoon was spent in conversation of that kind which gives and
takes with mutual delight. Le Gardeur seemed more his old self again in
the company of Pierre; Amelie was charmed at the visible influence
of Pierre over him, and a hope sprang up in her bosom that the little
artifice of b