believe that I had but little fortune, he grasped my hand and told me
I took a weight from his mind--"

"Who is it you mean?" asked Modeste, coloring.

"_The man of fixed principles and sound moralities_," said her father,
slyly, repeating the words which had dissolved poor Modeste's dream on
the day after his return.

"I was not even thinking of him, papa. Please leave me at liberty to
refuse the duke myself; I understand him, and I know how to soothe
him."

"Then your choice is not made?"

"Not yet; there is another syllable or two in the charade of my
destiny still to be guessed; but after I have had a glimpse of court
life at Rosembray I will tell you my secret."

"Ah! Monsieur de La Briere," cried the colonel, as the young man
approached them along the garden path in which they were walking, "I
hope you are going to this hunt?"

"No, colonel," answered Ernest. "I have come to take leave of you and
of mademoiselle; I return to Paris--"

"You have no curiosity," said Modeste, interrupting, and looking at
him.

"A wish--that I cannot expect--would suffice to keep me," he replied.