heard there; but when did a Montauban desert his sovereign in the hour of danger?"

"But the danger now lies in the hatred of men so far beneath you, that it is a degradation to contend with them," said Madeleine.

"A pack of wolves may be as destructive as a lion; shall we spare them in contempt ?" replied Adhemar de Montauban. 66 Enough, Madeleine, I must go. I must take my place by the side of the king. I will not lurk here as if I feared to avow my principles. I will not emigrate; for emigration is only a cowardly desertion of our duty, our country, and our king. I am an aristocrat ; I have a name to uphold, and a property to defend, and the canaille shall know that I may die, but never shrink from the struggle."

"Yet the poor peasants have been very miserable," said Madeleine; "perhaps they only seek for justice, dear Adhemar; do not call them canaille."

"My sweet Madeleine, you argue like a woman. A moment since you spoke as if the blood of the rabble would stain my sword, and now you speak of them as very moderate, estimable people. Yout do not know

what you want to say."

"I know that I want to keep you here with me, and safe," said Madeleine. "For the rest, I do not understand any thing about politics; your vassals are happy, for you are very kind to them, but on other properties near my

convent, I saw the peasants very wretched; they were starving, and yet they were obliged to work for their lords without payment for their labor."

“Tush, Madeleine, you must not deduce principles from solitary facts. There are a few tyrants among our noblesse, perhaps, but most of them are kind to their vassals, and considerate of their welfare; their kindness gives as favors all that the laws could grant as rights to the peasants."

"Yet, Adhemar, it is hard to think that one must ask as a favor, what ought to be a right; it is dreadful that the lives of thousands, or at least their welfare, should depend on the caprice of one,—yes, Adhemar, even of you."

"Do you accuse me of oppressive conduct?" said Adhemar.

"Oh no, you are too noble, too kind, to be severe to your dependents," said the young girl, with a look of ardent love and pride; then, seeing that Adhemar looked annoyed by her words, she changed the conversation, and added, "Will you not consult our grandfather, Adhe

mar?"

“He is in his dotage,” said the Marquis de Montauban; "I have consulted a better counselor, Edouard de Lorency. He advises me to go-he accompanies

me."

Madeleine trembled; a deep blush passed over her

cheek, and then it ebbed away and left her very pale. Her brother observed not her agitation, and he went on speaking with bitter energy.

"We go, and though it may cost us our lives, yet we will prove that we are aristocrats and patriots also. Patriotism and self-interest are one in our feelings. What is the welfare of a country to a man who has nothing to lose by its ruin? What is dishonor to a man who has no name ?"

At this moment a servant informed Adhemar that his lawyer was awaiting his pleasure in the library.

66

He comes to take my instructions before I leave the country, perhaps for ever," said the Marquis; "I would De Lorency were here."

Madeleine remained alone. She leaned on the pedestal of a sculptured vase, which was filled with some rare Indian plants. Their drooping branches bent over her head, and their bright and perfumed flowers rested on her hair and on her brow. Her eyes were fixed on the setting sun, but her thoughts were abstracted from all around her. A light footstep reached her ear—she started ; a smile played on her lip, and a rosy flush rose even to her temples, but she did not turn her head towards the terrace stairs. sieur de Lorency was at that moment descending those stairs. He was about thirty-five years of age, but he looked much older. A wound received in America had caused his dark brown hair to assume a touch of gray.

Mon

His figure was very fine, but his commanding presence was somewhat injured by the slight stoop which always bent his head. A deep furrow was traced upon his broad and thoughtful brow, and a shade of melancholy gravity rested on his clear gray eyes. He was not happy. The last representative of a noble but fallen house, he had experienced the neglect and the coldness of the world, and in return, he looked upon that vain world with haughty scorn; and shrank from the pleasures of that society, in which he felt that he was received without a welcome. When chance threw him among those who were only his equals in birth, although more richly favored by fortune, he met them with a reserve which would have repulsed any advance towards intimacy. Though generally silent, he possessed great conversational powers, but he spoke with a cynical bitterness which sprung from wounded pride and the galling feelings of high-born poverty, and which effectually repelled the interest which his high character as a soldier, and his powerful talents as a political writer, would naturally have exerted.

"Mademoiselle de Montauban," he said, "I come to take leave of you."

The tone of deep sorrow in which he spoke contrasted strangely with the cold formality of his words. After a pause he added, in the same low broken voice, "Your brother has told you that we must leave you to-mor

row."

66

Why do you persuade him to leave me?" said Madeleine.

They were silent once more. She still looked along the darkening sea, while his eyes were fixed on her with a look of painful thought; but though her face was half averted from his gaze, she felt that it was fastened upon her, and she dared not turn towards him.

“Your brother asked my advice; he placed his honor in my hands. Could I deceive him? If my advice has caused you grief, I implore you to pardon me. And oh! Mademoiselle de Montauban, do not hate

me."

"When may you return ?" said Madeleine.

“Adhemar has hope;

"I know not," he answered. he thinks the cause of loyalty may yet triumph. I have no hope; the cause is lost. Our king has no energy; our nobles have deserted the country; our priests are infidels; the popular party wish for revenge for past injustice, as well as for the obtaining of the recognition of their own rights; the royalists wish to uphold every oppressive abuse of law to which they give the name of justice. How can peace ever arise from these discordant elements ?"

"No, no," said Madeleine, "there can be no peace. I shall never see Adhemar again."

She burst into tears, and hastily extending her hand to De Lorency, she murmured a few words of parting regret. Lorency took her hand, touched it with his lips,