become of you without a friend?"

She blushed crimson; but she said timidly,--

"But, papa, there is M. Daniel Champcey."

"Well?"

The count's eyes shone with delight as he saw that she was falling into
the pit he had dug for her. The poor girl went on,--

"I thought--I had hoped--poor mamma had told me--in fact, since you had
allowed M. Daniel to come here"--

"You thought I intended to make him my son-in-law?"

She made no answer.

"That was in fact the idea your mother had. She had certainly very odd
notions, against which I had to use the whole strength of my firm will.
A sailor is a sorry kind of husband, my dear child; a word from his
minister may part him for years from his wife."

Henrietta remained silent. She began to understand the nature of the
bargain which her father proposed to her, and it made her indignant.
He thought he had said enough for this time, and left her with these
words,--

"Consider, my child; for my part, I will also think of it."