udly indulge in the idea of having both a wife and daughter; and give
to the sorrowing child who is just restored to my arms the delight of
saying, 'My father--my mother--my sister!'--for your sweet girl would
become mine also."

"Ah, my lord," exclaimed Clemence, "my grateful tears alone can speak my
sense of such noble conduct!" Then suddenly checking herself, she added,
"I hear persons approaching, my lord; your daughter comes."

"Refuse me not, I conjure you!" responded Rodolph, in an agitated and
suppliant tone. "By the love I bear you, I beseech you to make me happy
by saying, 'Our daughter comes!'"

"Then be it _our_ daughter, if such is your sincere wish," murmured
Clemence, as Murphy, throwing open the door, introduced Fleur-de-Marie
into the salon.

The astonished girl had, upon entering the immense hotel from the
spacious portico under which she alighted from the marquise's carriage,
first crossed an anteroom filled with servants dressed in rich liveries;
then a waiting-room, in which were other domestics belonging to the
establishment, also wearing the magnificent livery of the house of
Gerolstein; and lastly, the apartment in which the chamberlain and
aides-de-camp of the prince attended his orders.

The surprise and wonder of the poor Goualeuse, whose ideas of splendour
were based on the recollection of the farm at Bouqueval, as she
traversed those princely chambers glittering with gold, silver,
paintings, and mirrors, may easily be imagined.

Directly she appeared, Madame d'Harville ran towards her, kindly took
her hand, and throwing her arm around her waist, as though to support
her, led her towards Rodolph, who remained supporting himself by leaning
one arm on the chimneypiece, wholly incapable of advancing a single
step.

Having consigned Fleur-de-Marie to the care of Madame d'Harville, Murphy
hastily retreated behind one of the large window curtains, not feeling
too sure of his own self-command.

At the sight of him who was, in the eyes of Fleur-de-Marie, not only her
benefactor but the worshipped idol of her heart, the poor girl, whose
delicate frame had been so severely tried by illness, became seized with
a universal trembling.

"Compose yourself, my child!" said Madame d'Harville. "See, there is
your kind M. Rodolph, who has been extremely uneasy on your account, and
is most anxious to see you."

"Oh, yes--uneasy, indeed!" stammered forth Rodolph, whose breast was
wrung with anguish a