arie-Anne had promised to meet Maurice, owed its nam

would grow there. The ground was covered with stones

here and there above the

g, for the floods of winter have deposited in some of the clefts of the rock sufficient

ed the hour of mid-day. He had supposed that he was late, bu

rock, from which he could surv

August sun fell with scorching violence upon the sandy soil, and

the buzzing of an insect, nor a whisper of breeze in the trees. All nature seemed s

upon Maurice. These few moments of solitude afforded him an opportunity to regain his composure, to collect his though

ruel knowledge of life which teaches one

ial eminence which he had attained, he found, in the valley of humiliations into which he was cast, only hatred, distrust, and scorn. Both factions despised an

position a sufficient explanation of

ouineau at Escorval by M. Lacheneur on the preceding evening, he arrived at the conclusion that this report

ince he had just refused an alliance of which he had been proud in his days of prosperity. Could it be in order

endeavoring to solve this mystery, when at last, on a foot

tion, did not venture to lea

lances on every side as she ran. Maurice remarked, not without surprise, that s

d, he sprang toward her, and catch

im, was now gently withdrawn, with so sad a gestur

g so I have betrayed my father's confidence-he was obliged to leave home. I hastened here. And

Maurice was appalled by t

irl. He would have understood it from her pallor, from the contraction of her lips, from the redness of the eyel

your heart even the slightest shadow of a hope. All is over; we are separated forever! Only weak natures revolt against a destiny which they cannot a

" exclaimed the wretched

s, and in a husk

u then f

woman, M

interru

tly. "Poor fool that I was! I believed that you

ightly, hesita

lf at my father's f

derstruck, but r

arguments that he will be forced to yield. What right has he to ruin my happiness with his caprices? I love you--by right of t

go, he knew not where. Mari

acquainted now with the reasons of my father's refusal; and though his decision should cost me my life, I approve it.

m. Crazed with anger and despair, and with no remorse for the insu

ng your consent? He believes so since he goes about

her very heart; and yet there was more sorrow

t between Chanlouineau and my father, I have not been consulted? Must I tell you that there are some sacrifices which are beyond the strength

her earnest words, dazzled by th

his suspicions, and was horrified with himsel

" he faltere

h had so rapidly succeeded each other, or M. Lacheneur'

ce of salvation; he beli

e without pausing to look back. Before n

rms, as if to seize her and bear her awa

, when I believed him the owner of Sairmeuse, had demanded the sacrifice to which I consented last evening, I might, perhaps, have resolved upon the extreme measure you have counselled. In broad daylight I might have left Sairmeuse on the arm of my lover. It is not the world that I fear! But if one might consent to fly from the chateau of a rich and happy fathe

when a crackling of dry bran

l de Sairmeuse was standing mo