a dreadful catastrophe. He had not heard the
inexorable sentence of the notary:--"Four months more and your bond
expires, when all you possess in this world will be sold by the officers
of justice to satisfy your creditors!"

Two of those fatal months had already expired!

If Monsieur De Vlierbeck appeared to encourage the young man's love, it
was not alone in consequence of his sympathy with his feelings. No: the
_denouement_ of his painful trial was to be developed within a defined
period; and, if it proved inauspicious, there was nothing but dishonor
and moral death for himself and child! Destiny was about to decide
forever whether he was to come out victorious from this ten years'
conflict with poverty, or whether he was to fall into the abyss of
public contempt! These were the feelings that induced him to conceal his
true position more carefully than ever, and, while he watched over the
lovers like a guardian spirit, made him do nothing to check the rapid
progress of their passion.

As the time of his uncle's return approached, the two months seemed to
Gustave to have flown by like a pleasant dream; and, although he felt
sure that his relative would not oppose the union, he foresaw that he
would not be allowed hereafter to spend so much of his time away from
business. Indeed, the very idea that he might be obliged to pass
considerable periods without seeing Lenora made him look for his
uncle's return with any thing but delight.

One day he contrived to whisper his fears and anticipations to Lenora,
and, for the first time since their acquaintance, saw tears gathering in
her eyes. The girl's emotion touched his heart so sensibly that he
ventured timidly to take her hand, and held it in his for a long time
without uttering a word. De Vlierbeck, who had overheard the remark,
tried to comfort him, but his words did not seem to produce the desired
effect; and, after a short time, Gustave rose abruptly and took leave,
though his usual time of departure had not yet arrived. Lenora read in
his expression that some sudden revolution had occurred in her lover's
mind, for his eyes glistened with extraordinary animation. She strove
eagerly to retain him by her side; but he resisted her appeal
pleasantly, and declared that nothing should unveil his secret till the
following day, when he would return to Grinselhof. De Vlierbeck,
however, was more familiar with the world than his daughter; and,
imagining that lie had penetra