Chapter XXVIII.—(Continued.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 5, 23 May 1884, Page 5

Chapter XXVlll.—(Continued.)

Come now," urged M. de Tourmagne, " just think it over ; and above all, don't cry about it. Suppose, for instance, that you had,a little slily, but still with due reason and consideration, chosen for yourself, and that Madame d'Aubecourt could, at her next visit to the Tuilaries, announce your approaching marriage ; do you think any one would even hint at the viscount ? Not at all; there would not be a word about him." He took my hand and looked down into my face questioningly. There I stood before him, trembling and silent. He had certainly done bis best to put me at my ease and to iuvite my confidence. I drew away my band and pressed it tightly in the other ; but I could not speak. Germain's name died away unspoken. I could not mention him to this man, who knows, and loves, and appreciates him so. How, then, shall I speak of him to my much prejudiced aunt ? " After Madame d'Aubecourt has been informed of the state of your feelings," he went on, " some friend, whom I think we shall manage to find, could, if necessary, talk her round to understand your reasons and ideas, the impossibility of forcing you, and the necessity of having an answer ready for the viscount. We might even point out to her how the De Sauveterres had been obliged to resort to royal authority to carry yon off. 1 think I can undertake to make this point pretty clear to her." " And could you not make the others clear to her, also, M. de Tourmagne ?" I pleaded. " No, no," was the answer ; " for the very reason that I should not, nor do I wish to, know anything before Madame d'Aubecourt does ; the ice muflt be broken by you ; besides, there might be things to be said which would be better kept between yourselves ; nor have I yoor eloquence. Come, my child, courage, courage I Ask yourself if your mother would have approved of all yon are doing, and then do bravely what she would have sanctioned. Be perfectly certain she would not have given you to the Viscount de Sauveterre. J have heard much about her lately, from one who knew her neU. She must have been a most generous and a most holy woman ; and I am sure she is praying for you in Heaven." " God bless you for saying so, dear M. de Tourmagne." I said, " and God bless jou for all your goodness to me." " My child," be said, very tenderly, " you deserve to be happy, aud happy you shall be ; and that happiness shall he the last and greatest joy of my life; but that is enough about it," he added, abruptly ; "it is all settled. v You shall have your chat with your aunt to-day, or to-morrow, the sooner the better; and meantime, lam very sad on my own account. Darcet, whom I love as if he were mv son, insists on making a new voyage. He wants to go to discover Niniveh ; a fine project, no doubt, but somewhat inopportune. He has already applied to the minister for a mission to the countries of the Levant, and I do not know how to keep him." " But he is not going yet, is he V I asked, tremblingly. " Why, in fifteen days from this he is to be at his chosen post. Meantime, I do not despair of keeping him in Paris and embarking him in other and happier pursuits, of which I have not as yet spoken to him. I think that, like you, he has a special saint protecting him from Heaven, a real saint, whose aid I might invoke for him with great confidence. Do you know that Mademoiselle Joyant was his relation and godmother ?" " What 1" I cried ; " Mademoiselle Joyant of Laval?" "Precisely. I heard it yesterday by accident. You are not ignorant of the great services which Mademoiselle Joyant has rendered to your family ? Remember that, if there is ever any necessity to raise my friend Germain in Madame d'Aubecourt'B good graces." Having tendered to me this new argument, of which I intend to make good use, the dear, good count went away, and I flew up here to write to you, whilst I was waiting for my aunt to speak at once ; for, besides the loss of time, I should only be tempted to put if off too long if I waited for a more favorable occasion than the present, and I mean to be very brave. She is coming, Elise; I hear her carriage ; I dare flpt think of what I am going to do, for fear I should give up.