under such disadvantages?"

She glanced at me almost archly, in the flash of lightning that rent
the sky.

"I am really afraid to answer yes,--yet perhaps I am brave enough to
venture it."

"I have never been at court, Mademoiselle, and so you may not consider
my judgment in such matters of much moment; but I thought you rarely
beautiful."

For a moment she did not attempt to speak, but I could distinctly feel
the heaving of her bosom as I held her hard against the assault of the
wind, and bent low hoping to catch an answer.

"You are sincere and honest," she said at last, slowly, and I felt that
the faint trace of mockery had utterly vanished from her soft voice.
"'T is manifest in your face and words. You speak not lightly, nor
with mere empty compliment, as would some gilded courtiers I have
known; and for that reason I do value your opinion."

"You are not angry at my presumption?"

"Angry?--I?" and she stopped and faced me, holding back her hair as she
did so. "I am a woman, Monsieur; and all women, even those of us
hidden here in the wilderness, like best those who admire them. I do
not know that I am as beautiful as you say, yet other men have often
said the same without being pressed for their opinion. No, I am not
angry,--I am even glad to know you think so."