'What needs dwelling on it?' he muttered; 'doubtless they are engaged by this time! I shall surely do something desperate if they come here, under my very eye. Would that I could go to the Antipodes, ere I forfeit Louis's love! But my grandmother, Clara! Was ever man so miserably circumstanced?' A hand was on the door; and he strove to compose his face lest he should shock his grandmother. It was not Mrs. Frost. 'Louis! for Heaven's sake, where are they!' 'In the House Beautiful.' James breathed--'And you! what makes you so pale? What have you done to your arm? 'A little affair of the barricades. I have been watering the French Republic with my blood.' 'Rushing into the thickest of the row, of course.' 'Only escorting Miss Conway through an assault of the Garde Nationale said Louis, in a tone as if he had been saying 'walking up the High Street.' How could he help teasing, when he could make such amends? James began to pace up and down again, muttering something about madness and frenzy. 'It was not voluntary,' said Louis. 'When the carriage was confiscated for the service of the nation, what could we do?--I can tell you, Jem,' he added, fervently, 'what a gallant being she is! It was the glorious perfection of gentle, lofty feminine courage, walking through the raging multitude--through shots, through dreadful sights, like Una through the forest, in Christian maidenly fearlessness.' James had flung himself into a chair, hiding his face, and steadying his whole person, by resting his elbow on his knee and his brow on his hand, as he put a strong force on himself that he might hear Louis out without betraying himself. Louis paused in ardent contemplation of the image he had called up, and poor James gruffly whispered, 'Go on: you were happy.' 'Very happy, in knowing what cause I have to rejoice for you.' James gave a great start, and trembled visibly. 'I did not tell you,' pursued Louis, 'that the single moment when she lost her firmness, was when she thought she had lost a certain ivory clasp.' James could endure no more: 'Louis,' he said, 'you must try me no longer. What do you mean?' Louis affectionately put his hand on his shoulder: 'I mean, dear Jem, that I understand it now; and it is a noble heart that you have won, and that can value you as you deserve.' James wrung his hand, and looked bewildered, inquiring, and happy; but his quivering lips could form no words. 'It was a time to reveal the depths of the heart,' said Louis. 'A few words and the loss of the bracelet betrayed much: and afterwards, as far as a lady could, she confessed that something which passed between you the last evening--'