OF THE FOREST. 43

There was some interval between the de-
parture of Fanchon (with whom Madame
Bulé had gone out) and the entrance of
Aimée. I was left alone, and the scene was
“an impressive one. The church was an an-
cient Gothic edifice, richly decorated with
carved figures and ornaments; I was in a
chapel of the Virgin, which was situate at
the end of a long arched aisle; all was mo-
tionless around me, and no sound was heard
but the soft low murmuring of the wind
among the towers and battlements ; my mind
was full of what had just passed, and the
anxious inquiry of Susette respecting what ~
satisfaction I should require of her recurred
to my thoughts. It was very natural, I per-
ceived, that she should expect me to insist on
her seeking a reconciliation with those whom
she had offended; common sense dictated
such a satisfaction, and common justice re-
quired it ; but the church (to which I then
belonged) had demanded no such hard ser-
vice ; to put its votaries out of humour with
themselves was no part of its policy. In the
case in question, I had acted as a faithful son
of ¢he church ; I had regarded its interests ;
and the question was suggested to my mind,