ing and
sympathy.

Heloise was beautiful, gay, spirited, full of good humor and
sensibility. Her heart had long been devoted to Le Gardeur, but never
meeting with any response to her shy advances, which were like the
wheeling of a dove round and round its wished-for mate, she had long
concluded with a sigh that for her the soul of Le Gardeur was insensible
to any touch of a warmer regard than sprang from the most sincere
friendship.

Amelie saw and understood all this; she loved Heloise, and in her quiet
way had tried to awaken a kinder feeling for her in the heart of her
brother. As one fights fire with fire in the great conflagrations of
the prairies, Amelie hoped also to combat the influence of Angelique des
Meloises by raising up a potent rival in the fair Heloise de Lotbiniere
but she soon found how futile were her endeavors. The heart of Le
Gardeur was wedded to the idol of his fancy, and no woman on earth could
win him away from Angelique.

Amelie comforted Heloise by the gift of her whole confidence and
sympathy. The poor disappointed girl accepted the decree of fate, known
to no other but Amelie, while in revenge upon herself--a thing not rare
in proud, sensitive natures--she appeared in society more gay, more
radiant and full of mirth than ever before. Heloise hid the asp in her
bosom, but so long as its bite was unseen she laughed cruelly at the
pain of it, and deceived, as she thought, the eyes of the world as to
her suffering.

The arrival of Heloise de Lotbiniere was followed by that of a crowd of
other visitors, who came to the Manor House to pay their respects to
the family on their return home, and especially to greet Le Gardeur and
Colonel Philibert, who was well remembered, and whom the busy tongues
of gossip already set down as a suitor for the hand of the young
chatelaine.

The report of what was said by so many whispering friends was quickly
carried to the ear of Amelie by some of her light-hearted companions.
She blushed at the accusation, and gently denied all knowledge of it,
laughing as a woman will laugh who carries a hidden joy or a hidden
sorrow in her heart, neither of which she cares to reveal to the world's
eye. Amelie listened to the pleasant tale with secret complaisance, for,
despite her tremor and confusion, it was pleasant to hear that Pierre
Philibert loved her, and was considered a suitor for her hand. It was
sweet to know that the world believed she was his choice.

She t