What analogous process was taking place in the lovely countess's heart and senses? It is certain that at the sight of that wonderfully beautiful young man, of a type of beauty wherein nobility of outline was surpassed only by intelligence of expression, she had a sort of instinctive feeling of respect; for he was not really a stranger to her. She knew the whole story of his upright, noble labor, his persistence in working earnestly and regularly, his filial love, his generous aspirations, the esteem and affection which he deserved, and which nobody who knew him could deny him. It may be that she had sometimes been curious to see him, but if so she had forbidden herself to give way to curiosity, whether because it seemed childish to her, or because she had a vague presentiment of some danger to herself. Let us not attempt to dissect her feelings farther. She was apparently all ready for the invasion of the sentiment which was to decide her fate. She received a terrible shock; the confusion which paralyzed Julien took complete possession of her, and for a moment she was as silent and motionless as he. If anyone had seen that beautiful couple, fashioned by the hands of God, in some region inaccessible to social prejudices, coming together under the natural and awe-inspiring conditions of the all-governing logic, he would have said unhesitatingly that logic, born of God, had made that magnificent man for that fascinating woman, and that sensible, genuine woman for that high-spirited and earnest man. All was charm and gentleness in Julie's grace; all was passion and unselfishness in Julien's beauty. As at last their glances met in the bright radiance of that May sun, redolent with the fragrance of nature's new light, each one uttered mentally, as it were an outcry of irresistible love, the names which chance had given them--_Julie, Julien_--as if they were destined to have but one name between them. Thus it required a mighty effort of will for them to remember the distance that separated them socially. "Of course, it is the young painter," thought Julie; "I fancied for a moment that I saw a demi-god." "Alas!" said Julien to himself, "it is the _grande dame_; I fancied for a moment that I saw the half of myself." She bowed first, and asked him if he were Monsieur Julien Thierry. He bowed to the ground as he said with a hypocritical expression of doubt: "Madame la Comtesse d'Estrelle?" What trifling! as if they had any occasion to ask questions before taking possession of each other. "Is madame your mother out?" "No, madame, I will call her." And he did not stir; his feet seemed to be nailed to the floor. "She is with my cousin Marcel Thierry," he added; "shall I tell him to come down and receive his orders?"