"My guardian, too, is proud," answered Amanda.

"Let us not wait, but wed without, and not against
their leave, then;" Montigny urged adroitly: -- "but
your guardian will consent: he has avowed as much
unto me privately; so, mark; when morning brings
the daylight to the east, be ready. Meet me beyond
these grounds; when we will hasten to the village
of Saint Laurent, and there be married. The deed
being thus achieved, none will oppose, for before the
irrevocable all rebuke is dumb."

"And so am I to this," was replied with dignity.

"Yet let me speak:" Montigny urged with despe-
rate eagerness, "let me persuade you, for to this
pass it must come; then let it come at once, since
each day will cause the path thereunto to grow more
rugged. My father's storm of threats, my mother's
deluge of tears, will make the way impassable and
past repair. You falter; your silence speaks consent;
you are convinced, and yield to the necessity for this
ungracious consummation. Good night. To-morrow
early, meet me at the church of Saint Laurent, all
shall be ready, -- pray offer no remonstrance; -- meet
me there at ten, -- the priest is my fast friend; -- nay,
do not grieve, but say good night; to-morrow you
shall smile: -- goodnight, good night;" and kissing
his hand to her, before she could reply, the impetu-
ous lover reached the postern, and, vaulting into the
saddle, vanished.

Paralyzed with amazement and apprehension,
Amanda stood motionless and dumb. She would
have called on Claude to return, but dare not, lest
she should alarm the slumbering inmates of the
house, and she was still standing irresolute and

[[79]]

p078 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p079w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p080

v?