252 BLANCHE DE BEAULIEU. 
and terrors she had undergone from the taking of St. Florent till 
the night on which he had saved her life. The city of Nantes 
broke upon their sight as she finished her tale ; and in a few mi- 
nutes Marceau was in the arms of his family. His first weleome 
over, he presented to them his young fellow-traveller. A few words 
were sufficient to interest them in her behalf; his sisters vied with 
each other in showing her the most delicate attentions ; and on her 
expressing a wish to exchange her present dress for one more be- 
coming her sex, conducted her to their apartments, where they 
assisted her to array herself in a more suitable costume, selected 
from their own wardrobe. 
Prepossessed as the young General was already in her favour by 
the sweet simplicity, mingled with the womanly dignity, she had 
displayed throughout their intercourse, he could not conceal his 
admiration when he beheld her striking beauty, as, on returning to 
the room, she smilingly extended her hand towards him. Blanche 
could not but perceive the impression she had made, and a sensation 
of delight arose in her mind as she did so. For the first time in 
her life she became conscious of the full value of personal charms ; 
and she inwardly thanked heaven for having so plentifully bestowed 
them on her. All was joy and happiness under one roof in Nantes 
on that evening. 
Days passed rapidly on. Every hour Marceau became more con- 
vinced of the danger of remaining in Blanche’s society, yet found it 
impossible to tear himself away. It was vain to attempt to conceal 
his passion ; it was visible in his every look and action. On one 
occasion he presented to her the most costly ornaments, but she 
could not be prevailed upon to accept any. ‘ Do jewels become my 
situation ?” she replied sadly, “ while my father is probably begging 
his bread from cottage to cottage, a homeless outcast, with a price 
set on his head ; myse!f a proscribed fugitive! No! my simplicity 
will hide me from observation, and remember, discovery would be 
ruin.” Then, on seeing how much he was hurt by her refusal, she 
said more gaily, “ Well, then, F will take this,” seleeting from the 
ornaments before her a small artificial red rose, ‘and wear it in 
memory of your kindness.” A fortnight still remained before the 
expiration of his leave of absence, when Marceau suddenly received 
an order to return immediately to his regiment, and join the army 
in the west of France. He was astonished and dismayed beyond 
measure at this unexpected command. One thing was certain—it 
must be obeyed ; to hesitate was to be lost. 
Must he, then, leave her who had become dear to him as his own 
