schemes of happiness we used to build when in
prison."

"What about getting a gamekeeper's place for my man?" asked La Louve,
with a sigh; "and a cottage in the middle of the woods for us all to
live in? Oh, no! That is too much like what we read of in fairy tales,
and quite impossible ever to happen to a poor creature like myself."

Quick steps were heard advancing rapidly from behind the trees, and in a
minute Francois and Amandine (who, thanks to the kind consideration of
the Count de Saint-Remy, had been permitted to remain with La Louve,
during her attendance on La Goualeuse) presented themselves, quite out
of breath, exclaiming:

"La Louve, here is a beautiful lady come along with M. de Saint-Remy to
see Fleur-de-Marie, and they want to see her directly!"

At the same moment, Madame d'Harville, accompanied by M. de Saint-Remy,
appeared from the side of the walk, the impatience of the former not
allowing her to wait the arrival of Fleur-de-Marie. Directly the
marquise saw her, she ran and embraced her, exclaiming:

"My poor dear child! What happiness does it not afford me to find you
thus in life and safety, when I believed you dead!"

"Be assured, madame," answered Fleur-de-Marie, as she gracefully and
modestly returned the affectionate pressure of Madame d'Harville, "that
I have equal pleasure in seeing again one whose former kindness has made
so deep an impression on my heart!"

"Ah, you little imagine the joy and rapture with which the intelligence
of your existence will be welcomed by those who have so bitterly
bewailed your supposed loss!"

Fleur-de-Marie, taking La Louve, who had withdrawn to a distance from
the affecting scene, by the hand, and presenting her to Madame
d'Harville, said:

"Since, madame, my benefactors are good enough to take so lively an
interest in my welfare and preservation, permit me to solicit their
kindness and favour for my companion, who saved my life at the expense
of her own."

"Make yourself perfectly easy on that score, my child; your friends will
amply testify to the worthy La Louve how fully they appreciate the
service they well know she has rendered you, and that 'tis to her they
owe the delight of seeing you again."

Confused and blushing, La Louve ventured neither to reply nor raise her
eyes towards Madame d'Harville, so completely did the presence of that
dignified person abash and overpower her. Yet, at hearing her very name
pronounced, La Louve could not r