Too happy for
speech, he rode on a while in silence.
"Amelie will have changed much in appearance?" he asked, at last.
A thousand questions were crowding upon his lips.
"Changed? Oh, yes!" replied Le Gardeur, gaily. "I scarcely
recognize my little bright-eyed sister in the tall, perfect young
lady that has taken her place. But the loving heart, the pure mind,
the gentle ways, and winning smiles are the same as ever. She is
somewhat more still and thoughtful, perhaps--more strict in the
observances of religion. You will remember, I used to call her in
jest our St. Amelie: I might call her that in earnest now, Pierre,
and she would be worthy of the name!"
"God bless you, Le Gardeur!" burst out Colonel Philibert,--his voice
could not repress the emotion he felt,--"and God bless Amelie!
Think you she would care to see me to-day, Le Gardeur?" Philibert's
thoughts flew far and fast, and his desire to know more of Amelie
was a rack of suspense to him. She might, indeed, recollect the
youth Pierre Philibert, thought he, as she did a sunbeam that
gladdened long-past summers; but how could he expect her to regard
him--the full-grown man--as the same? Nay, was he not nursing a
fatal fancy in his breast that would sting him to death? for among
the gay and gallant throng about the capital was it not more than
possible that so lovely and amiable a woman had already been wooed,
and given the priceless treasure of her love to another? It was,
therefore, with no common feeling that Philibert said, "Think you
she will care to see me to-day, Le Gardeur?"
"Care to see you, Pierre Philibert? What a question! She and Aunt
de Tilly take every occasion to remind me of you, by way of example,
to shame me of my faults--and they succeed, too! I could cut off my
right hand this moment, Pierre, that it should never lift wine again
to my lips--and to have been seen by you in such company! What must
you think of me?"
"I think your regret could not surpass mine; but tell me how you
have been drawn into these rapids and taken the wrong turn, Le
Gardeur?"
Le Gardeur winced as he replied,--"Oh, I do not know.
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