tude of shade had found favor in the eyes of the
seigniors of Tilly, and saved it from the axe of the woodman.

A pretty brook, not too wide to be crossed over by a rustic bridge,
meandered through the domain, peeping occasionally out of the openings
in the woods as it stole away like a bashful girl from the eyes of her
admirer.

This brook was the outflow of a romantic little lake that lay hidden
away among the wooded hills that bounded the horizon, an irregular sheet
of water a league in circumference, dotted with islands and abounding
with fish and waterfowl that haunted its quiet pools. That primitive bit
of nature had never been disturbed by axe or fire, and was a favorite
spot for recreation to the inmates of the Manor House, to whom it was
accessible either by boat up the little stream, or by a pleasant drive
through the old woods.

As the carriages drew up in front of the Manor House, every door,
window, and gable of which looked like an old friend in the eyes of
Pierre Philibert, a body of female servants--the men had all been away
at the city--stood ranged in their best gowns and gayest ribbons to
welcome home their mistress and Mademoiselle Amelie, who was the idol of
them all.

Great was their delight to see Monsieur Le Gardeur, as they usually
styled their young master, with another gentleman in military costume,
whom it did not take two minutes for some of the sharp-eyed lasses to
recognize as Pierre Philibert, who had once saved the life of Le Gardeur
on a memorable occasion, and who now, they said one to another, was come
to the Manor House to--to--they whispered what it was to each other, and
smiled in a knowing manner.

Women's wits fly swiftly to conclusions, and right ones too on most
occasions. The lively maids of Tilly told one another in whispers that
they were sure Pierre Philibert had come back to the Manor House as
a suitor for the hand of Mademoiselle Amelie, as was most natural he
should do, so handsome and manly looking as he was, and mademoiselle
always liked to hear any of them mention his name. The maids ran out
the whole chain of logical sequences before either Pierre or Amelie
had ventured to draw a conclusion of any kind from the premises of this
visit.

Behind the mansion, overlooking poultry-yards and stables which were
well hidden from view, rose a high colombiere, or pigeon-house, of
stone, the possession of which was one of the rights which feudal
law reserved to the lord