He came forward and took both her hands as she rose.

"My dear young lady!" he said, and smiled kindly at her.

After a word of greeting she offered him a chair, and came again to the window.
Presently she looked up and said very simply: "I am going to be married.
You have known me ever since I was born: do you think I will make a good wife ?" "With prayer and chastening of the spirit, my daughter," he said.
"But suppose that at the altar I remembered another man ?" "A sin, my child, for which should be due sorrow." The girl smiled sadly.

She felt poignantly how little he could help her.
"And if the man were a Catholic and a Frenchman ?" she said.
"A papist and a Frenchman!" he cried, lifting up his hands.

"My daughter, you ever were too playful.