hissing voice, speaking between his teeth-" Last night!-What! when the Rue Pannessac was the scene of that bacchanalian orgie! Magdeleine !-Speak!—what am I to think?"

"Think what you like, Guy," said she, bursting into tears, for you torment me to death! Think anything you please, however unworthy, of me!"

Unworthy! Think unworthily of you, Magdeleine? Sooner perish sun, moon, stars, and light! Your tears scald my heart! You have called me Guy for the first time."

"I would not, I can tell you, if I had had time to think about it."

"Don't recall it! Your woman said you had worn my ear-rings daily!-those ear-rings you would hardly accept, or own to be pretty, and affected to be so indifferent about! Precious, adorable Magdeleine!"

Doubtless, Guy would here have gone down upon his knees, but for the entrance of the Bishop, which recalled him to common sense directly. The Bishop looked troubled and preoccupied; and was about to speak with seriousness, when, seeing his sister in tears and Guy

with flashing eyes and burning cheeks, he stopped short, and said

"What! A lover's quarrel?"

Now, Guy had so truly the spirit of a lover in him, that he would rather have been trampled to death than have involved the mistress of his affections in any embarrassment. He, therefore, cleared his brow directly, and said—

Nothing whatever of the sort, my lord. The lady Magdeleine and I merely got upon too interesting a subject, and, her nature being so angelically sensitive, she was overcome more than I expected, and—and—’

"I am glad to hear it is nothing worse," said the Bishop, smiling and taking her hand. 'I believe I can pretty well guess the nature of the interesting subject, and I am glad an éclaircissement has taken place at last. You were sure enough of my consent beforehand. And now, to revert to a less interesting subject to both of you, Magdeleine takes part in the procession, of course?"

Of course," said Guy for her, seeing her quite unable to answer for herself. For Magdeleine was actually petrified, and covered with

confusion at her brother's having taken for granted something so utterly opposite to what had happened.

"All is well, then," said the Bishop, smiling affectionately on her; "and now, my dear Guy, if you can tear yourself away from Magdeleine for a few minutes, I shall be glad of your company."

Certainly," said Guy, hastily raising Magdeleine's hand to his lips, and then accompanying him out of the chamber. Scarcely was the door closed, however, when he muttered, "Oh! my glove-" and leaving the Bishop to descend the stairs by himself, he was at Magdeleine's side the next instant. She raised her burning face from her hands, but did not look up.

Magdeleine! the éclaircissement has taken place! he is glad of it!" whispered Guy; and, unable to resist kissing the soft cheek his lips had approached so nearly, he did not wait to be chidden for it, but, the next instant, was hastening towards the Bishop's study.

CHAPTER XII.

The Incognita discovered.

HE expiatory procession took place with all

THE

the pomp and circumstance imaginable. Magdeleine de St. Nectaire took part in it; Colette was among the congregation; for, in spite of much conversation with Victor and Christophe in the interim, and an increasing disposition to adopt the reformed opinions as far as she could understand them, early habit and some degree of timidity prevented her from openly forsaking the established religion of the country. So she stood or knelt as others did; and having entered the cathedral with the lower orders, who closed the procession, she of course did not see those who with all the externals of rank and wealth took the lead in it. The service had commenced, when, through the long vista of figures, she saw Magdeleine standing near one of the

pillars in a long, transparent veil of black gauze, and knew her again.

Christophe!" cried she eagerly, the next time she saw her brother, "I have discovered who is the beautiful lady who attended the meeting on Wednesday night. She is the Bishop's sister!"

"Nonsense!" said Christophe.

66

She is, I am certain; I saw her quite plainly, though we were so far apart."

The Bishop's sister!" repeated Christophe, with scornful incredulity. "A likely thing, that she, the beauty of Le Puy and flower of all Languedoc, whose colours are worn at court tournaments by fifty young gallants, would demean herself by coming to such a place as Grégoire's kitchen!”

"Remember what Victor said: The love of Christ constrained her.'

"But she is a staunch Catholic: the Bishop is one of the pillars of the Church, and she is his only sister!"

"Brothers and sisters don't always think alike, do they, Christophe?" said Colette, laughing.

'Ah well, I am certain you are mistaken. You might easily be so at such a distance."