"What ails you, Alice, dear? No ill news, I trust?"
"Alas! I have only ill news for you, dearest, and I know you are hard beset without my adding other troubles to your perplexities."
"Hush, darling! Never think your needs add to my perplexities. I never feel so like surmounting everything as when I think I live for you; to champion your cause against all comers, and flaunt defiance in the face of your enemies."
"I fear the championing of my cause will bring you into deadly peril, perhaps to death."
"If it does, dearest, you gave me my life when an ignominious death awaited me. If I die in defence of you, well, I am willing, aye, more than willing. But let us not cherish thoughts like these, for I think a merciful Providence will always reserve a blessing for one like you; so let us have faith, and never doubt the future. I am full of faith and hope. Come, tell me what new trouble distracts and disturbs your mind."
Then they sat together on an abutment, and Alice, nestling close to her virtuous knight, told of the new complications which had arisen.
"My father has been very wroth to-day, chiding me roughly because I make not preparations for my nuptials, and threatening my marriage to Vigneau by force."
"He is still determined, then, to press on this hateful and heathenish alliance?"
"Yes; but judge him not too harshly, dearest. I am well assured he loves me dearly, in spite of this seeming harshness. I have seen again and again a frown on his brow, and heard bitter words break from his lips at the intrusion of Vigneau. I am satisfied that if it were not for the hateful power he wields over my father, I should not be forced into this alliance. But Vigneau claims my hand as the price of peace."
"You still hate this man, and abhor a union with him, Alice, dear? Is it not so?"