"Certainly," said the devotee, with emphasis. "Your carriage, with your own coat of arms emblazoned upon it, and draped in mourning. One of the footmen will follow us into the church, carrying a black velvet bag containing our prayer-books. You know, of course, that is the custom followed by all people of fashion and position." "Forgive me, mademoiselle, but I really do not see the use of so much pomp. I go to church only to pray, so can we not go afoot? The weather is so delightful at this season of the year." "What an admirable example of modesty in the midst of opulence, and simplicity in the midst of grandeur!" cried the devotee. "Ah, Ernestine, you have indeed been blessed by the Saviour. Not a single virtue is lacking. You possess the rarest of all, saintly, divine humility,--you who are, nevertheless, the richest heiress in France." Ernestine gazed at Mlle. Helena with increasing astonishment. The artless girl did not feel that she was expressing any remarkably laudable sentiments in saying that she preferred to walk to church on a delightful summer morning; so her surprise increased on hearing the devotee continue to laud her to the skies in almost ecstatic tones. "The grace of Heaven has indeed touched your heart, my dear Ernestine," she exclaimed. "Yes, yes, everything indicates beyond a doubt that the Saviour has blessed you by inspiring you with the most profoundly religious sentiments, by giving you a taste for an exemplary life, spent in the exercise of a piety which does not forbid those harmless diversions which may be found in society. May God protect and watch over you, my dear Ernestine, and soon, perhaps, he will give you a still more unmistakable sign of his all-powerful protection." The loquacity of the usually silent and reserved devotee was interrupted by the appearance of Madame de la Rochaigue, who, less discreet than her sister-in-law, entered unannounced. The baroness, greatly surprised to find Ernestine tete-a-tete with Helena, eyed the latter rather suspiciously, but the devotee assumed such a vacant and sanctimonious expression that the lady's suspicions were instantly dispelled. The orphan rose and advanced to meet Madame de la Rochaigue who, bustling in, bright and sparkling and smiling, said to the girl in the tenderest manner, seizing both her hands: "My dearest child, I have come--if you will permit me--to keep you company until the dinner hour, for I am really jealous of my dear sister-in-law's good fortune." "How very kind you all are to me, madame!" replied Ernestine, grateful for the kind attentions of the baroness. Helena rose to go, and, with the intention of anticipating any possible question Madame de la Rochaigue's curiosity might prompt, said to the young girl: "To-morrow morning at nine o'clock, that is understood, is it not?" Then, after an affectionate nod of the head to the baroness, Helena departed, escorted to the door by Mlle. de Beaumesnil.