Amelie saw and understood all this; she loved Heloise, and in her
quiet way had tried to awaken a kinder feeling for her in the heart
of her brother. As one fights fire with fire in the great
conflagrations of the prairies, Amelie hoped also to combat the
influence of Angelique des Meloises by raising up a potent rival in
the fair Heloise de Lotbiniere but she soon found how futile were
her endeavors. The heart of Le Gardeur was wedded to the idol of
his fancy, and no woman on earth could win him away from Angelique.
Amelie comforted Heloise by the gift of her whole confidence and
sympathy. The poor disappointed girl accepted the decree of fate,
known to no other but Amelie, while in revenge upon herself--a thing
not rare in proud, sensitive natures--she appeared in society more
gay, more radiant and full of mirth than ever before. Heloise hid
the asp in her bosom, but so long as its bite was unseen she laughed
cruelly at the pain of it, and deceived, as she thought, the eyes of
the world as to her suffering.
The arrival of Heloise de Lotbiniere was followed by that of a crowd
of other visitors, who came to the Manor House to pay their respects
to the family on their return home, and especially to greet Le
Gardeur and Colonel Philibert, who was well remembered, and whom the
busy tongues of gossip already set down as a suitor for the hand of
the young chatelaine.
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