waiting for a reply, much to the young man’s relief, who was somewhat embarrassed by so direct a compliment and, in truth, utterly weary of the whole subject, of which he heard continually, she turned and spoke to two young gentlemen half-concealed in the deep embrasure of a window.  At her call they both came forward, the eldest, the Duc de Chartres, who might have been sixteen years of age, laying down a violin on which he had been playing softly, and the younger, Monsieur de Beaujolais, who could not have been over thirteen, closing the book he had been reading.

“Mes fils,” says the Duchess, softly, and smiling at Mr. Morris and Calvert with a sort of melancholy pride shining in her dark eyes.  In truth, the young princes were good to look at, especially the little Monsieur de Beaujolais, who had a most animated and pleasing countenance.  As they stood one on each side of their mother they made a pretty group.  Perhaps ’twas the remembrance of that picture in after years which warmed Mr. Morris’s heart to the exile in distress over the seas and made him a generous friend despite the royal ingratitude.

“So she has saved something out of the wreck of her life,” thought Mr. Calvert, pityingly, looking at the two youths. “’Tis doubly fortunate that they in nowise resemble their ignoble father,” and he thought with disgust of that dissolute nobleman of whom he had heard so much.  While these thoughts were passing through his mind the Duchess was speaking earnestly, to Mr. Morris.

“I ask your advice, Monsieur,” she said, dismissing with a smile the two young gentlemen, who retired once more to their place at the window.  “You, who seem to know so well how to breed heroes in your own country, can surely tell me how to bring up my sons to be an honor to their race!”

“Your Highness,” returned Mr. Morris, after an instant’s hesitation, and deeply moved at such a mark of esteem, “for Monsieur le Duc de Chartres, who, in the inscrutable workings of Providence, may one day be king”—­the Duchess started and turned pale—­“there is but one course to follow, one education open.  But for Monsieur de Beaujolais, why should he not lend his talents to business enterprises, to great commercial undertakings which make for the prosperity and stability of a country as surely as even its army or navy?  Thus also will he create happiness for himself, because, if idle, at five and twenty, having enjoyed all that rank and fortune can give him, he will be unhappy from not knowing what to do with himself.”

In spite of the democratic simplicity of the idea, the Duchess seemed impressed and listened attentively to Mr. Morris, who was about to explain more at length the advantages of such a career for the young prince, when the conversation was interrupted by the lackey at the door announcing the arrival of Madame la Comtesse de Flahaut.

At the name the Duchess threw a meaning look at Mr. Morris.

“Enfin!  J’ai fait venir Madame de Flahaut ce soir.  N’est ce pas que je suis aimable?” she said, laughing, and speaking rapidly.