She remained longer in her own room, alone, than she had done since their removal to the castle.

Every day she went out, and almost always took the direction of Blanche Delebarre's cottage, where she spent several hours.
Intelligence of his daughter's good deeds did not, so often as before, reach the old baron's ears; and yet Nina drew as much money as before, and had twice asked to have the sum doubled.

The father could not understand the meaning of all this.

He did not believe that any thing was wrong--he had too much confidence in Nina--but he was puzzled.

We will briefly apprise the reader of the cause of this change.
One day--it was nearly a year from the time Nina had become a constant visitor at Blanche Delebarre's--the young lady sat reading a book in the matron's cottage.