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
of the times prevalent among the young men of rank and fortune in
the colony, who in dress, luxury, and immorality, strove to imitate
the brilliant, dissolute Court of Louis XV.
Amelie passionately loved her brother, and endeavored--not without
success, as is the way with women--to blind herself to his faults.
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