befitting their rank and position in society. The Chevalier Le
Gardeur de Tilly had fallen two years ago, fighting gallantly for
his King and country, leaving a childless widow to manage his vast
domain and succeed him as sole guardian of their orphan niece,
Amelie de Repentigny, and her brother Le Gardeur, left in infancy to
the care of their noble relatives, who in every respect treated them
as their own, and who indeed were the legal inheritors of the
Lordship of Tilly.

Only a year ago, Amelie had left the ancient Convent of the
Ursulines, perfected in all the graces and accomplishments taught
in the famous cloister founded by Mere Marie de l'Incarnation
for the education of the daughters of New France, generation after
generation of whom were trained, according to her precepts, in
graces of manner as well as in the learning of the age--the latter
might be forgotten; the former, never. As they became the wives and
mothers of succeeding times, they have left upon their descendants
an impress of politeness and urbanity that distinguishes the people
of Canada to this day.

Of all the crowd of fair, eager aspirants contending for honors on
the day of examination in the great school, crowns had only been
awarded to Amelie and to Angelique des Meloises--two girls equal in
beauty, grace, and accomplishments, but unlike in character and in
destiny. The currents of their lives ran smoothly together at the
beginning. How widely different was to be the ending of them!

The brother of Amelie, Le Gardeur de Repentigny, was her elder by a
year--an officer in the King's service, handsome, brave, generous,
devoted to his sister and aunt, but not free from some of the vices