Diana had meantime slung her basket on her arm.
"Before I leave you to-day," said she, "I should so much like to ask a favor of you." "A favor of me, mademoiselle ?" "Yes; oblige me by saying nothing of what has occurred to-day to any one; for should it come to my parents' ears, they would undoubtedly deprive me of the little liberty that they now grant me." "Mademoiselle," answered Norbert, "be sure that I will never mention the terrible accident that my awkwardness has caused." "Thank you, Marquis," answered the girl, with a half-mocking courtesy.
"Another time let me advise you, before you shoot, to look that no one is behind a hedge." With these words she tripped away, without her tiny feet showing any signs of lameness.

She had read Norbert's heart like the pages of a book, and felt that there was every chance of her winning the game.

"I am sure of it now," said she; "I shall be the Duchess of Champdoce." How grateful she felt for that untimely shot! And she felt sure that Norbert had understood what she meant when she had said that she went along that path.

She felt certain that the young man had not lost one word.

She believed that the only opposition would come from his father.