"
"That Miss Meynell married a gentleman of Normandy, and left one only
child, a son. His name is Gustave Lenoble, and he is standing by your
side. He is heir-at-law to a very large fortune, which it was once
supposed you could claim. Are you sorry, Lotta, to find a kinsman and
lose a fortune?--and are you contented to begin the world with no hope
except in your husband's patience and courage?"
"And genius!" cried Charlotte, with enthusiasm.
The sweet, blinding glamour of love shone upon this young scribbler, and
she believed that he was indeed worthy to take rank among the greatest of
that grand brotherhood of which he was so humble a member. She looked up
at him with the prettiest confidence; her clinging hand clasped his with
love and trust immeasurable. He felt and knew that love like this was a
treasure beside which the Reverend John Haygarth's hoarded thousands must
needs seem but sorry dross.
After this there was much explanation and congratulation. Gustave Lenoble
was delighted to claim so fair a kinswoman.
"Thou art like my eldest, my cousin," he said; "Diana saw the likeness at
the Sacre Coeur when she beheld my daughter; and I too saw my eldest's
look in thine eyes when I first met thee. Remember, it was convened
between us that Cotenoir should be a home for thee and for Hawkehurst
before I knew what link bound thee to the house of Lenoble.
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