’You will not refuse me this,’ pleaded Mirelle. ’See! I did not ask you for all those generous and kind things you have devised for me. But a man does not understand the feelings of a woman. You are strong and unable to comprehend my terrors. To you they are childish and absurd, but they are very real and serious to me. I only ask you this one thing—if Genefer must remain, let Orange come.’ He could not resolve to give his consent. ’Would it not be better if I were to find you a suitable companion, some lady, young, and, if you desired it, of your own faith?’ ’How can I tell that she would suit me? There were many girls, my schoolfellows, at the Sacré Coeur. They were of my own age, and all were good Catholics, but with several of them I could not live, and with some I should not care to live. How can I tell that you would find me just the very girl that I should like? No, I know Orange. We do not think alike. She has not faith. She is older than I am, and though companions we are not intimates; but I know her, and she loves me; she has good sense and she can advise. That is all I want.’ ’Was there no girl at your old school whom you would like to ask to come to you? You must have had some dear friend there.’ ’Yes, there was la Princesse Marie de la Meillerie; we were close friends. But conceive! I could not invite her to this place of banishment, where there is not a tree nor a flower. This world here is not nature in flesh and clothing, it is the skeleton of nature, and it demands the enthusiasm of a geologist to admire such a country. My companions, again, were of the _haute noblesse_, and were not of the sort to become _gouvernantes_ to young unprotected ladies.’ ’No, I see that.’ ’Moreover, who would come here, where you have a church picked bare to the bones of all that surrounds and sweetens religion? My friends are Catholics, and love a living church, not one which is only bones, though the smallest of bones be preserved and _in situ_, and the entire skeleton be well set up.’ ’I dare say it is so.’ ’Then you will allow Orange Trampleasure and her mother to come to me. See you! they are at Launceston, and are left without money.’ ’I promised in your name to place five thousand pounds to the account of Miss Orange.’ ’Yes, I do wish that. But that is not sufficient. They are not comfortable at Launceston. It was there that they met with their great reverse. It was in that house that Mr. Trampleasure died. The people of Launceston suffered by the failure of the gold mine, and they will not forgive Mrs. Trampleasure and Orange, though only the old man and Mr. Sampson were guilty of wrong towards them. I know that Orange and her mother would like to leave the town, and go elsewhere, where they are not known. That also is a reason why I wish them to come to me.’