moiselle de S. Ange, her eldest daughter, and a young Spanish lady, Beatriz de Scala (whose father, the Marquis de Scala, banished from his own country for political reasons, had found an asylum at the Château S. Ange for his declining years, and a kind protector in the count, who, on her father's death, had adopted Beatriz as his own daughter). The countess was seated on a chair, and the two girls stood by her side, while behind, at a little distance, were stationed the count's lackeys and the female attendants of the three ladies, with the exception of Cecile Rénault, the countess's own personal attendant, who stood behind her mistress's chair.

'What a time the procession is in coming,' said Annette de S. Ange to her companion. Are you not tired of waiting, Beatriz?'

'No,' answered Beatriz with a surprised look; 'are you?'

'Terribly fatigued,' said Annette, shrugging her shoulders slightly; 'but you, of course, never feel tired on such occasions.'

'Why should I not?'

Oh, you are so devout; you are like Isabelle in that respect, Beatriz, though in no other.'

'I wish I was more like Isa.'

6

'Are you not afraid of making me jealous?'

'No, you know what I mean.'

Hush,' said Annette, 'there is M. de S. Etienne coming up the street. Stand before me, Beatriz, I don't want to catch his eye: I am afraid of him.'

He has a strange look sometimes,' said Beatriz musingly; but why should you be afraid of him, Annette?' 'Oh, I don't know, Beatriz.

way.'

He sees me, and is coming this

Here the voice of the countess broke in.

'What is the matter, my children?' 'Nothing,' said Annette hastily. approaches.'

'Monsieur de S. Etienne

Monsieur de S. Etienne was the prior of a Dominican monastery, which stood on the plain just beyond the village, and was noted for his austerities and cold and severe temper, which made him no favourite, even among the Catholics; while as to the Huguenots, who were excessively numerous in the surrounding villages and districts, their hatred of him passed all bounds. Nor was their dislike groundless, for the prior was not only disposed to persecute their religion, but was actually an active propagator of the severe policy of the French court, and was anxious to extend the regime of the sword to the district of S. Ange, which had hitherto escaped the visits of General Montreveil and his soldier missionaries. These indeed at that time were beginning to find that they had roused a spirit of resistance in the breasts of the rugged peasants of the Cevennes not over easy to subdue. Thus, in spite of the prior's requests, the general found himself unable to

despatch a single dragoon in the direction of S. Ange. But, though hitherto unscathed by persecution, the Huguenots of S. Ange and its neighbourhood knew that it might be their fate one day to endure it, and knew also that to the prior they would be indebted for it when. ever it did come. Such fierce and dark threats were muttered among them that the prior was implored by his monks not to walk alone after nightfall; but to these solicitations, as to the menaces of the Huguenots, he turned a deaf ear.

As the prior made his way up the street many of the peasants doffed their hats, and some knelt to him for his blessing, which, however, he bestowed in every case mechanically, without a glance on the applicant-in fact he did not raise his eyes from the ground until he reached the group consisting of the count and his family.

After bestowing his benediction on all assembled, the prior beckoned to the count, who urged his horse forward to the priest's side, and entered into a whispered conversation. When they ceased the count looked grave and anxious, while the monk, on the contrary, seemed relieved, and a smile for a moment passed over his face as he looked on the people around. After standing for some time in silence the prior turned towards Annette, and said

'Where is your sister?'

'Isabelle? At home with Edouard.'

'Of course, when one has to stay behind the lot falls on Isabelle,' said the prior, sarcastically.

'Edouard always prefers Isabelle,' answered Annette, quickly; and she is never happier than when alone with him.'

'I did not ask for a reply, my daughter,' said the prior, coldly. 'You have heard my words; strive to profit by them.'

Habitual awe kept back the retort which Annette would gladly have uttered; but she coloured, and looked anything but pleased, while the prior turned away and mingled with the crowd. As soon as he was out of hearing Annette turned to Beatriz, and said—

'Monsieur de S. Etienne always chooses the most unpleasant times for his lectures; no one but he would have reproved me before all the world, and he looked angrily at you too, Beatriz, as if he considered you a partaker of my sins."

'Perhaps the rebuke was deserved, Annette. I think we are both a little hard on Isabelle sometimes.'

'What an idea! Isa would not come when we asked her. Taisez donc, Beatriz! one lecture is enough; don't you begin.'

Beatriz smiled.

'I fear it would be of little use if I did. But, Annette, what is happening down below? Hark! a trumpet, and horses coming up the street; some soldiers must be at hand. See, here they come, Annette -they are the dragoons of Languedoc! And, look, who is that

officer-is it not Claude?'

'One, two, three, four, six, eight, ten,' said Annette, with animation. Yes, Beatriz, it is Claude; I am so glad. Mamma, here is Claude!'

All Beatriz's self-control could not prevent the blood rushing to her brow as the little troup, numbering some sixty sabres, came up the street at a trot, and halted just by the knoll, while their captain, Claude de S. Ange-the only son of the count by his present wife, bearing the title of chevalier in right of his birth-dismounted from his horse, and came forward carrying his plumed hat, to salute his father and mother. To Claude, Beatriz was fondly attached, though none save Isabelle de S. Ange were aware of the fact; not even Claude himself knew it, and Beatriz was by no means desirous that Annette, of all people, should discover her secret, so she managed by an effort to regain her composure before meeting her friend's eyes, and greeted Claude almost coldly when he turned from Annette to pay his respects to her.

'What a time it is since you were here last, Claude,' said Annette, gaily. What brings you here now? Business, I suppose, of the king?'

'Yes, I am certainly not come for pleasure,' he answered, briefly. 'ButI wish to present my friend, M. Deslys, to you,' he added, turning to his father and mother; he is my lieutenant.'

Both the count and countess expressed their willingness to make the young officer's acquaintance, and he was accordingly presented in due form to them and the young ladies. The count then rode forward to speak to one of the village people, and left the young people to converse with no further restraint than the presence of the countess, who was of by no means a stern disposition, and allowed her children, even when with her, considerable liberty.

Claude naturally was surprised at the stir in the village, and, turning to Beatriz, asked her what was the occasion of the commotion.

'It is the Fête S. Jean,' she answered; we are waiting for the procession to pass.'

If that is the case, M. Deslys,' said Claude, we had better order our fellows to draw off.'

'.I will see it done,' was the lieutenant's answer; they had better form at the side of the road?'

'Yes, that will be the best place.'

'How many dragoons have you there, Claude?' asked the countess.

Sixty, not including myself and Lieutenant Deslys.'

'Are you come to harry the Huguenots?' asked Annette gaily.

'Not that I am aware of,' answered Claude. I have brought

letters to my father from the court.'

'Letters?' said the countess.

'Yes, but I do not know their import, my mother.'

Annette,' said Beatriz, after a pause, ' are not those people down there Huguenots?'

'Huguenots! Where?'

'Down in that corner. What can they want there? They have no right to be present at the fête.'

'Why not, as long as they do not disturb us?' said Annette. 'If my father were to allow none but Catholics in the village, the population would be a small one.'

'Are there so many Huguenots about?' asked Claude gravely.

They swarm everywhere now; Beatriz, you know, lives in daily terror of a rising in S. Ange, and I must say we hear unpleasant rumours sometimes. Your Marshal Montreveil seems to make little head against the insurgents in other districts, and my father says that another victory on the part of the Camisards will bring about a general rising. Already some of Cavalier's emissaries have made their way here.'

'Indeed,' answered Claude, 'who is this Cavalier of whom we hear so much?'

'A peasant,' said the countess, somewhat disdainfully, at the head of peasants, wretchedly organised and worse armed.'

'Who, however, manages to hold Marshal Montreveil at bay.' answered Annette.

'Depend upon it, monsieur,' said Raymond Deslys, who had just returned, 'that what they told us at Paris is true; and,' he added, in a lower voice, 'what I said to you about our errand here is true.'

'If I thought so,' answered Claude, in the same tone, 'I would throw up my commission.'

But at that moment the sound of the choristers chanting was heard in the distance, and soon over the heads of the crowd at the end of the street the sacred banners were seen waving, and the lifted crucifixes swaying to and fro as their bearers advanced up the village. At the first glimpse of the procession Beatriz fell on her knees, and her example was soon followed by the countess and Annette. The count took off his hat and bowed low, almost to his saddle bow; Raymond Deslys knelt on one knee and saluted with his sword; in fact, the only one of the group who remained erect was Claude himself, but, as he was standing somewhat behind the others, his conduct was unnoticed, save by his brother officer.

Onward came the procession towards the level space in front of the knoll, where the sacred Host was to be raised for the adoration of the faithful, the clear notes of the boys of the united choirs of the parishes of S. Ange, S. Eustacie, and S. Medard, blending sweetly with the deep tones of the Dominicans who followed them. Last of all came Father Clement, the old curé of S. Ange, who claimed the office of benediction in right of his age, and the fact also that the Count S. Ange resided in his parish-bearing the sacred Host. On arriving

at the appointed spot, the choristers and monks grouped themselves round Father Clement, who with the assistance of another priest, mounted a small platform erected just in front of the knoll; then, at the sound of the bell, the assembled peasantry sank on their knees, while the dragoons saluted with their sabres. One only among the Catholics made no sign of reverence, and that one was Claude de S. Ange, who remained with his eye fixed on the ground, and occupied himself with drawing figures with the point of his sheathed sword, unconscious that both Beatriz and the prior were watching him (for he had shifted his position so far as to be visible to the former, who was kneeling just behind the Countess and Annette), but the look of the girl was one full of mingled horror and reproach, that of the monk one of stern amazement and anger.

The rite having come to an end, the procession moved off towards the hamlet of S. Eustacie, which was situated about a mile off, followed by many of the villagers; the rest of the peasantry, after saluting their seigneur and his family, dispersed in various directions, and the party from the château began also to bestir themselves. The count's lackeys led up their master's horse, for he had dismounted during the performance of the sacred rite, and the carriage of the countess was driven up to the foot of the knoll.

'You will come up to the château, Claude?' said his father; and you also, M. Deslys; you must also look on yourself as my guest while you remain at S. Ange.'

The lieutenant bowed his acceptance of the count's hospitality; and Claude remarked

'We must see about posting our men first; we are under strict orders to ride as in an enemy's country, and must place vedettes both in front and behind the village. After we have done this, M. Deslys and I will join you. Antoine, order dinner for us in my apartment,' he added to the servant who acted as his personal attendant when he visited the Château S. Ange.

'Your orders shall be obeyed, M. le Chevalier,' answered the man respectfully. At what time?'

'Eight o'clock. Come, M. Deslys, Sergeant Duvernois must act as Maréchal des Logis this night.'

The two officers then saluted the ladies, and mounting their horses rode back to their men, and the countess and her daughter and Beatriz entered their carriage, and, in company with the count and their attendants, returned to the château; Claude and his lieutenant having seen their men quartered among the different houses of the peasantry, and their guards posted, and having given directions to Sergeant Duvernois to requisition both forage for the horses, and food and drink for their riders, from the villagers, returned to the château, where they found an excellent repast awaiting them in Claude's apartments, to which they did ample justice.