Dame Rochelle had received a new lease of life by the return home of
Pierre Philibert. She grew radiant, almost gay, at the news of his
betrothal to Amelie de Repentigny, and although she could not lay
aside the black puritanical garb she had worn so many years, her
kind face brightened from its habitual seriousness. The return of
Pierre broke in upon her quiet routine of living like a prolonged
festival. The preparation of the great house of Belmont for his
young bride completed her happiness.
In her anxiety to discover the tastes and preferences of her young
mistress, as she already called her, Dame Rochelle consulted Amelie
on every point of her arrangements, finding her own innate sense of
the beautiful quickened by contact with that fresh young nature.
She was already drawn by that infallible attraction which every one
felt in the presence of Amelie.
"Amelie was too good and too fair," the dame said, "to become any
man's portion but Pierre Philibert's!"
The dame's Huguenot prejudices melted like wax in her presence,
until Amelie almost divided with Grande Marie, the saint of the
Cevennes, the homage and blessing of Dame Rochelle.
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