"She is in a better frame of spirit?" asked the latter.
"She is more resigned, messire," replied the priest.
"Now the Lord help her, she is hard to please!" sneered the old
gentleman. "A likely stripling - not ill-born - and of her own
choosing, too? Why, what more would the jade have?"
"The situation is not usual for a young damsel," said the other,
"and somewhat trying to her blushes."
"She should have thought of that before she began the dance. It
was none of my choosing, God knows that: but since she is in it,
by our Lady, she shall carry it to the end." And then addressing
Denis, "Monsieur de Beaulieu," he asked, "may I present you to my
niece? She has been waiting your arrival, I may say, with even
greater impatience than myself."
Denis had resigned himself with a good grace - all he desired was
to know the worst of it as speedily as possible; so he rose at
once, and bowed in acquiescence. The Sire de Maletroit followed
his example and limped, with the assistance of the chaplain's arm,
towards the chapel door. The priest pulled aside the arras, and
all three entered. The building had considerable architectural
pretensions. A light groining sprang from six stout columns, and
hung down in two rich pendants from the centre of the vault. The
place terminated behind the altar in a round end, embossed and
honeycombed with a superfluity of ornament in relief, and pierced
by many little windows shaped like stars, trefoils, or wheels.
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