savages, but could
arrange with Amelie for as much enjoyment as they could crowd into these
summer days."

"It is all arranged, aunt!" replied Amelie. "We have held a cour
pleniere this morning, and made a code of laws for our Kingdom of
Cocagne during the next eight days. It needs only the consent of our
suzeraine lady to be at once acted upon."

"And your suzeraine lady gives her consent without further questioning,
Amelie! although I confess you have an admirable way of carrying your
point, Amelie," said her aunt, laughing; "you resolve first what you
will do, and ask my approbation after."

"Yes, aunt, that is our way in the kingdom of pleasure! And we begin
this morning: Le Gardeur and Pierre will ride to the village to meet our
cousin Heloise, from Lotbiniere."

"But you will accompany us, Amelie!" exclaimed Le Gardeur. "I will not
go else,--it was a bargain!"

"Oh, I did not count myself for anything but an embarrassment! of course
I shall go with you, Le Gardeur, but our cousin Heloise de Lotbiniere is
coming to see you, not me. She lost her heart," remarked she, turning to
Pierre, "when she was last here, at the feast of St. John, and is coming
to seek it again."

"Ah! how was that, Amelie?" asked Philibert. "I remember the lovely
face, the chestnut curls, and bright black eyes of Heloise de
Lotbiniere. And has hers really gone the way of all hearts?"

"Of all good hearts, Pierre,--but you shall hear if you will be good and
listen. She saw the portraits of you and Le Gardeur, one day, hung in
the boudoir of my aunt. Heloise professed that she admired both until
she could not tell which she liked best, and left me to decide."

"Ah! and which of us did you give to the fair Heloise?" demanded
Philibert with a sudden interest.

"Not the Abelard she wanted, you may be sure, Pierre," exclaimed
Le Gardeur; "she gave me, and kept you! It was a case of clear
misappropriation."

"No, brother, not so!" replied Amelie, hastily. "Heloise had tried the
charm of the three caskets with the three names without result, and at
last watched in the church porch, on the eve of St. John, to see the
shade of her destined lover pass by, and lo, Heloise vowed she saw me,
and no one else, pass into the church!"

"Ah! I suppose it was you? It is no rare thing for you to visit the
shrine of our Lady on the eve of St. John. Pierre Philibert, do you
recollect? Oh, not as I do, dear friend," continued Le Gardeur with a
sudden