"Allow me, Mr. Stanhope, to present you to my fair ward, Mademoiselle de
Courcy, whom, I perceive, you have already identified with the priest,
and page, who acted so conspicuous a part this evening."

"My acquaintance with Mr. Stanhope is of a much longer date," she said,
quickly, and rising to offer him her hand, with an air of frankness,
which, however, could not disguise a certain consciousness, which sent
the tell-tale blood to her cheeks.

"It has been far too long," said Stanhope, his countenance glowing with
delight, "to suffer me to be deceived by a slight disguise, though
nothing could be more unexpected to me, than the happiness of meeting
with you here."

"My aunt looks very inquisitive," said the young lady, withdrawing her
hand; and, turning to Mad. de la Tour, she continued, "I have been so
fortunate as to recognize an old friend in Mr. Stanhope; one, with whose
family my aunt Rossville was on terms of the strictest intimacy, during
our short residence in England."

"My sister's friends are doubly welcome to me," said Mad. la Tour; "and
I shall esteem the arrival of Mr. Stanhope particularly fortunate to
us."

"It is singular, indeed, that you should meet so very unexpectedly, in
this obscure corner of the earth!" said De Valette, endeavouring to
speak with gaiety, though he had remarked their mutual embarrassment
with secret uneasiness;--"how can you account for it, Luciè?"

"I am not philosophic enough to resolve such difficult questions," she