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134 cordially welcomed this guest to the château. Happy at the felicity which the young Govaertz procured for Henry, she received him kindly, without always succeeding in showing much enthusiasm. Indeed, without feeling an absolute antipathy to this little peasant, she must have been sometimes wounded to the quick, hurt to the very marrow, and notwithstanding her good heart, her sound reason and her greatness of soul, she had no doubt frequent movements of impatience against this intimate, intellectual commerce, this close comradeship, this perfect understanding between the two men. She even went so far as to be jealous of the talent and temperament, of the spiritual gifts which brought the young artist nearer to Kehlmark's soul than all the love of her, a simple woman, guardian of his happiness. The good creature showed nothing of these moments, so human in their weakness, but, for which her reason reproached her instinct.

As for Claudie, she was not at the outset, nor even for some time later, offended by the favour which the Dykgrave showed the young Govaertz. She saw in it a way the Count had of paying court indirectly to the sister, by patronising the brother. No doubt,