the reply, "Because it is the first time that I have an opportunity of replying to distinct question. Because neither my parents nor this gentleman here," inclining her head towards M. de Maupert, "have condescended to ask it of me; and because," her voice began to falter, her strength was evidently failing, "because," I rushed to her side, and supporting her beautiful form, "because," she concluded, her eyes lifted to mine, "this is the man of my choice."

I kissed her lips before the whole of the startled audience. I took her up in my arms with a giant's strength to a chair away from the cursed seat she had been made to sit upon before; I knelt by her side while the Mayor rushed off for restoratives, and by the side of my speechless love I stood guard, as a man defiantly protecting the life of his life.

Then, as if for the first time the significance of the scene enacted before them had just struck them, there was a rush to the door of frightened ladies and discreet friends, one and all anxious to quit a place where their stereotyped notions of propriety, involving, for aught they cared, the ruin of a young life, had received so great a shock, and hurrying to fill

the world of gossip with the details of the painful tragedy they had just witnessed.

But what cared I for gossip or criticism at that moment? my darling was safe from the profanation of other hands, and I believe I should have struck dead with the fury of a maniac the first person that had attempted to approach my charge.

In a short time the wearied eyes opened, and seemed to look for something. My arm was round her in a moment, and before her stunned and petrified parents my little Diane put her slight arms round my neck for protection, and we embraced with all the might that four weeks of pent-up love could pour into one happy moment of glorified bliss.

Those who looked down upon us in that hour of our triumph and ecstacy realised then, if they never did before, how powerless are the cold calculations of humanity and its meaningless projects for the happiness of youth against the power of love, that, once acknowlledged by two ardent young natures, brooks no obstacle, knows no barrier, and overturns in its sweeping current the firmest bulwarks raised against them by social codes or national prejudices.

The events of the last few hours were of too great an importance to allow of any delay in bringing them to a settlement; and whereas the dignity of a Senator had apparently been enough for the Count to find a ready excuse why he should not be the cause of a scandal, or play a part in an affair of love, into which he well knew he had not been willingly dragged, and he had on that account left

the room, it was left for the old Marquis to express to us his opinion of our conduct, and to determine the line of action he himself wished us to adopt.

It must, however, be acknowledged that the Count de Maupert, on retiring from the scene of action, left word that he was only behaving as he deemed at present the cause of discretion and dignity required of him; but that he would

await in an ante-chamber any call to him which might be made by either the Marquis, the Marquise, or the young lady herself.

As to Diane and myself, we were so rapt in the enjoyment of the moment, so happy in the fact that we were there together, breathing one breath, speaking one thought, and defying the world in our strong young love, that we could not speak.

We looked at one another, and the outpouring of our souls went out to each other in that look. So intense was it, that it was almost alarming to the onlookers, who for some time were riveted to the spot, where they stood silent and dazed, like ourselves in a dream.

I was the first to break the spell, and taking my arm away from the frail little treasure that I had been holding next my heart with such infinite tenderness and pride, I went up the Marquise, and taking her unwilling hand, she had no power to keep back, I kissed it reverentially; then going to the old Marquis, whose tears stood thickly in his eyes, I said: "Monsieur, here is your daughter. I ask her of you, and I give up my profession to live with her and you, if you consent to it."

He did not answer, but looked at Diane. The tears welled in her beautiful tired eyes. She gave him a little eloquent smile, but when she tried to speak she could

not.

I ran to her, fearing she was going to faint again: but she revived on my being near her, and gave my hand so meaning a pressure that, keeping it locked in mine own, I raised it to my lips, and looked at her father.

He could stand it no longer, and bent down to embrace his child.

I stood by, looking on. Diane, without saying a word, caught hold of her father's hand, and gently leading it, put it into mine.

We shook hands without saying a word; but the change had been wrought that we hoped for.

Regaining his voice, the Marquis asked for the Comte de Maupert, and on his coming in, the Marquis addressed him

"Monsieur le Comte, I owe you a reparation of honour for the insult which has been publicly offered to you by my own flesh and blood. I am at your orders where and when you may please to appoint." I listened stupefied. This had never entered into my reckoning. I only noted with satisfaction that Diane had not taken in the meaning of this speech; but the Comte at once replied, with a courage that did him honour

"Monsieur le Marquis, if such be your wish, I am, of course, at your commands; but we are too old acquaintances for you to misunderstand me, when I here declare that I am unwilling to repay in blood the debt of gratitude I owe for an honour to myself you had considered me deserving of, and which it is not your fault, or that of Madame la Marquise, that I should not now enjoy."

There was a pause; but as it was evidently for the Count to speak, and he felt it, he went on

"Mademoiselle your daughter has only said the truth, and in that she has not disgraced herself or your name. She has, indeed, acted with a courage so rare among young persons of her age in the France of the present day, that I can only regret, and bitterly regret, that I should not have perceived, until it was too late, the whole extent of my loss.

"It is perfectly true that she

"Under these circumstances, it remains for me as a man of years, whose honourable intentions were above all suspicion, to release you from any obligation under which you might feel yourself towards me, and to beg that if my name be ever mentioned in your family, it may not be with loathing and distaste, but with pity and respect. Adieu."

"Noble man!" I exclaimed, and in my impetuosity I was about to wring him by the hands in a transport of generous admiration, when he looked at me with a haughtiness that thrilled as well as checked any forward movement on iny part, and said

"I have not the honour of your acquaintance, and it is fortunate for you, inasmuch as had I that privilege I would certainly make use of it."

Stung to the quick, I said, addressing the Marquis, "Pray, sir, inform this gentleman that I am at his service, seeing that his visit to my rooms on an errand which concerned himself only, was an acquaintance thrust upon me which. I never desired."

"As you please," replied the Count, and left the room, bowing to us all in turn, and receiving our own bows in answer.

"Come to my arms, my child," said the old Marquis, "and receive my apology for having ignored the real character of my own daugh

"Mon enfant," said the Marquis to me, "we are not accustomed to scenes like this in our country; but to novel scenes, novel measures must be adopted. What are your wishes now!"

"Sir, I have not asked Mademoiselle Diane in so many words to marry me," I said, attempting a smile; "but I think our hearts have spoken. That generous Count has left us free, and obeyihg the custom of France, I respectfully ask your permission to woo and win the hand of the girl I love."

"I shall reply," said the Marquis, "as they do in EnglandWhat does my daughter say?"

For an answer, Diane, who had heard the conversation, left her mother, and running up to me, cried "Oui, oui," in so childish a manner, that the Marquis remarked

"I think this time there is no fear of the ceremony being interfered with, or of the Mayor stopping proceedings. Go, both of you, and ask the blessing of Madame la Marquise."

She was too much moved to say anything; but acquiesced silently in all her husband's wishes and those of her daughter.

It was evident that Diane's gentleness came from her mother, and her spirit from her father.

"We cannot remain here for ever," at last remarked the Marquis.

"Let us go home, and as my girl came here as a fiancée, she must not return otherwise. Take her arm and lead her to the carriage."

I did so, through a line of friends who had stayed behind to hear the dénouement or end of this affair,

maybe to carry gossip abroad, some perhaps to grieve or rejoice for and with us; and such is the power of success, that when they saw Diane and myself walking down the steps of the Maierie, happiness and smiles beaming on our countenances, they raised a loud "Vive les nouveaux mariés!" forgetful that we were not yet man and wife.

The crowd outside, which, always great on these occasions, had assumed large proportions, on hearing that a hitch, as Bob once called it, had occurred, cheered Diane over and over again, and she became quite suffused with blushes, as, in their enthusiasm, a rain of flowers was showered upon her, and a host of complimentary epithets were bestowed upon her.

At the door of the carriage, just as I was showing Diane into it, Raymond de Chantalis shook me warmly by the hand, and said, in a loud voice, "My congratulations, nephew, but do not do it again," which raised loud laughter at my expense.

Adalbert de Moncalpin squeezed himself near the carriage, and called out to me, "Vainard!" a slang expression meaning, "lucky fellow." In the crowd, Rivelalongue waved his handkerchief at me, and sent me a line written on a piece of newspaper, to the effect that "Alexander had destroyed the walls of Thebes, but Phryne had rebuilt them."

The whole thing was absurd, because Phryne was an hetaira, and she was not allowed to build up the walls of Thebes with money obtained by her beauty; but it was so complimentary to my beautiful bride elect, that I could only laugh at Rivelalongue's mythological reminiscences.

We said little to each other on the way to the house, but we set

tled to have a walk in her own garden as soon as we arrived.

"I am so tired," she said once. "I feel as if I had lived a whole life since yesterday; and it is only right, is it not, mother, that I should rest a little in my garden with Henry, and that he should try to make up to me for his unkindness in never coming to see us ?"

It was very foolish of us, but this made us all cry.

Perhaps it was that we were all suffering still from overstrained emotions, and that we sought relief in tears; but how different were our several sentiments!

Diane was wrapped in one idea, that of making up for lost time. I was engrossed by the dread that the scene in which she had just played so heroic a part would prove too much for her health, and the tone of her voice pointed to a similar fear existing in herself. Her parents-kind, honest, good people were variously moved.

When we reached the house, the servants, who were all on the qui vive for our return, received us in respectful silence, not knowing exactly what cue their master would give them, and determined in their French fidelity to watch his movements before they manifested any expressions of feeling on their own behalf; but the Marquis, who knew them well, addressed them thus as we entered the hall

"My friends, here is the husband of the Queen and loyalty to the Sovereign is the rule of my house."

A loud cheer resounded; and it seemed to me as if this cheer was all Diane required to make her perfectly happy.

She was really exquisitely lovely at this moment. She put up her hand to her veil, which with a