He was too much absorbed by her, to seek the cause of her alarm; but De Valette observed father Gilbert, standing at a little distance, his eyes intently fixed on Lucie, while his features betrayed the conflict of powerful emotions.
"Why are you thus agitated, Lucie ?" asked De Valette, in surprise; "surely you recognize the priest; you do not fear him ?" "He _makes_ me fear him, Eustace; he always looks at me so fixedly, so wildly, that I cannot--dare not meet his gaze." "This is mere fancy, Lucie," he answered, lightly; "is it strange that even the holy father should gaze on you with earnestness ?" "It is no time to jest, Eustace," she answered, with a trembling voice; "speak to him,--he is coming hither,--I will not stay." While she spoke, the priest drew near her,--paused a moment,--and, murmuring a few words in a low voice, turned again, and, with a thoughtful and abstracted air, walked slowly from them.

De Valette followed him; and Lucie, glad to escape, returned, with Stanhope, to the house..