"I am glad, very glad, to see you so soon recovered," said Pauline, addressing Edric in a gentle tone; "I feared, that is, my father feared, your wounds were more serious." "You see, Edric," cried Roderick archly, "it is as I said--Mademoiselle de Mallet feels for you exactly the same interest as her father does." "I should be flattered by exciting any interest in so gentle a bosom," sighed Edric, looking at her tenderly. Pauline sighed too--involuntarily, but remained silent. "Do you then feel no interest in my behalf?" continued Edric; "not even the cold, chilling feeling sanctioned by your father?" "Oh! call not the interest my father feels for you cold or chilling!" exclaimed Pauline with energy, "I am sure--that is, I think--" and here, fearing she had said too much, she stopped abruptly, totally unable to proceed. "Oh, go on!" exclaimed Edric, gazing earnestly upon her blushing face--"go on, I could listen to you for ever!" Pauline trembled, blushed, and hesitated. "I--I--I think I had better go to my father," stammered she after a short pause. Roderick smiled: "By all means!" said he. "Don't you think so, Edric?" Edric did not reply; for in fact he did not hear the question; whilst poor Pauline's agitation increased, and her colour changed rapidly every moment: she dreaded Roderick's raillery, and trembled so violently that she could scarcely stand. At this moment her father returned; he looked at his daughter with some surprise, and then, turning to his guests, he apologized for her abstraction. "My daughter is unused to camps," said he, "and the scenes she has lately gone through have been too much for her nerves." "She will now have an opportunity of recovering herself," replied Roderick; "my army will move forward to-morrow, and if you will accept the post, I will leave you governor of this city, with a sufficient garrison to keep it on my behalf." Pauline turned deathly pale as he spoke, and every hope of happiness seemed to fly from her breast for ever. M. de Mallet, however, was not at all aware of his daughter's anguish; and, thanking the king gratefully for the high honour conferred upon him, his fancy began to revel by anticipation in the delights of governorship; and in ten minutes he had arranged in his mind as many improvements and alterations as it would take fifty years to accomplish. "Farewell," continued Roderick, "I trust we shall meet again, if not here, at least in another and a better world. Permit me, lady!" continued he, slightly touching with his lips the pallid cheek of Pauline. "To-morrow with the dawn we advance, and we have so much to do ere then, that we must deny ourselves the pleasure of again enjoying your society. Farewell, Governor, you will find the necessary papers to install you here," (giving him a packet) "and the soldiers have orders to obey you as myself. Come, Edric."