"She will forget me soon," he thought to himself. But she had never forgotten him. She soon learned the truth through her friends and by her own womanly instinct. At first, she hated his wife; but soon repented of her injustice in this. She never expected to marry; but when Paul consented to make her his wife, knowing of her former infatuation, and make her the daughter-in-law of the man she loved, she hailed it as a means of escape from her misery. Revolving these things in her mind, Odette sat alone by the sea. She had completely forgotten the villa and Paul's arrival. Mme. Sirvin readily excused Odette's absence by her sudden illness, and the thought never came to Paul that she could do anything that called for an excuse. As he was quietly dreaming in a chair on the terrace, a little hand took his, and a sweet voice cried, "M. Frager! I am very glad to meet you again." Paul stared at Germaine with the greatest astonishment. "Will you not walk with me in the garden?" "With pleasure. I have not forgotten our meeting at Naples, and your kindness to me there." "My aunt is dead, and I have returned home, to be with my father and sister." "Is it possible that you are Odette's sister? Why, of course, the name of Laviguerie,--I might have known"---- Germaine noticed that even her name had escaped his memory. "Yes," she continued, "I am soon to be your sister-in-law. You did not know that when you saw me last!" If the moon had shone under the trees, as it shone on the sea and the rocks, it would have sparkled on the tears falling from her eyes. They strolled around the garden, and as they returned, Paul remarked, "How surprised Odette will be." "But, my dear friend, she must never know we have ever met before." "Not know"---- "I am afraid I can not explain myself clearly; but you know we always sent each other a letter every day. As it happened, at the time of your visit, my aunt was not very well, so I did not have the leisure to write as fully as usual. You must excuse me, but afterwards, the little incident quite escaped my memory; and I am afraid now, if Odette hears of it for the first time, she will be a little annoyed. Please do not mention it to her." "Certainly not." "Thank you; and do not smile at my anxiety to avoid causing Odette any uneasiness." Odette, meanwhile, was gazing sadly at the sea; suddenly she heard the sound of carriage wheels. It must be Claude! Her heart beat loud and fast. The carriage approached in the moonlight, and Odette shuddered as she recognized him. When the horses were within a few steps, she called, "Stop!" in such a tone of command that, involuntarily, the driver drew rein. Then advancing to the astonished Claude, she said, "It is I!" "You!" He left the carriage; the driver, turning around, drove off. They were alone. Nothing but the sea and the rocks to listen to their words. "Did your step-son give you the name of the young lady he is to marry?"