view before. Youth is ever careless, and
here was I on the verge of a precipice.
These notions filled me with distrust and
uneasiness, and I returned home rather
moodily, and a little ashamed of myself. In
future, caution should mark my guarded
way, as the queer old song has it; designing
women, as all the world has known this long
time, abound in France. These said sweet
dainty creatures are only so many
mermaids.

So, when dinner-hour came that day, and
with it yesterday's company of the Curé,
lawyers, traders, lawyers' wives, and
Madame herself in a suit of raiment exquisite
in taste and wholly different from that of the
day before (even the little boots were of
another hue), I wrapped myself close in a
cold and repelling demeanour; wanting
nothing, certainly, in a proper respect; but
being to the full as dry as any chip ever
pared. I have a strong idea, on the whole,
that I behaved like a brute.

"Did you not know this was my fête day?"
said Madame, beaming with smiles. " All the
world has presented me with bouquets,
except you, Monsieur. Fi donc! " she said,
shaking her head, " how comes it?"

"Pardieu! he must have mislaid it," said
Madame Tourlou, " for I saw him gathering
one with my own eyes."

There was truth in this; but it was before
coming to that wise resolution in the
garden.

"I have done wrong in gathering the
flowers," I said, with a cold stare. " I must
ask Madame's forgiveness. As to its being
Madame's fête-day, I was as yet a stranger to
it—not one of Madame's intimes;" and then
—(shrug.) " Garcon! some of that Volnay I
had yesterday. Mind, the same."

The poor little woman looked wounded;
but it was the first step towards establishing
a proper distance between us. The first step,
too, towards playing that brute character
spoken of. I felt, as I sipped the Volnay,
critically, how they must have all admired
the sturdy Briton's aplomb, and way of putting
the thing. But Madame, with the tact
of her country, took me at once, as I wished
to be taken, and dropped that confidential
manner which had so distressed me. She
became landlady, and I guest. Was not that,
after all, the proper footing? and, for the rest
of that dinner-ceremony, I was treated with
all formality. Which should have been most
welcome to the Briton's heart? for it was as
he desired, and yet—– It was a little
provoking, certainly, to hear all the jokes and
private allusions which went round—outside
of me—and which it was now plain, had been
hitherto repressed from respect to the
stranger. Even the Curé became less subjective,
and let off jokes. Tourlou of the comb,
floundered whale-like in merriment. I
looked on a little rueful; but it was better
thus.

Breaking up, they whispered a good deal
together, and talked in knots. " What hour?"
"You will come, of course, Monsieur le
Curé." " In Madame's own room? " " Such
a pleasant thing! " these were words that
reached me. Presently came the Curé to me
with mysterious manner:

"Monsieur will attend, of course?"

"At what ceremony?" I asked.

"Madame's little fête," said he.

"I have heard nothing of it—received no
invitation!"

"What a deplorable mistake! It is
terrible, and should have been thought of!"
said the good man all in a flutter.

"Bah! Monsieur le Curé," Tourlou put in,
who was standing just by, " there is none
needed. Madame will be overjoyed to see
every one, as a matter of course."

"'Twould be more en règle," said the Curé,
still troubled. " Wait; I will settle it in the
twinkling of an eye."

"I beg," I said, stopping him with dignity,
"I beg that you will not take any step in the
matter. I should not be able to attend in any
case."

But he had gone, and was speaking to
Madame at the end of the room. Well, I
might look in for a short time or so—a bare
quarter of an hour—without damage to that
dignity. One should conform to the customs
of the country.

The good man was explaining the difficulty
to Madame with much earnestness.
Madame shrugged her shoulders and
laughed:

"He is welcome to come if he please."

"Be it so, Monsieur le Curé." Confusion!

I had an engagement which would
ultimately prevent the acceptance of that kind
invitation. I was engaged to—myself, for a
walk—for anything—for nothing, in fact. I
was wrath at Madame's cool, French treatment,
and yet was not such footing more
desirable? Oh, infinitely!

It was about nine o'clock when I returned
from a dull stupid walk. I went up the hill
to see the famous view; but I had been up
the hill many times to see the famous view
before, so it had grown to be a little stale. I
went down the hill, on the other side, to the
little brook miniature waterfall, which was
held to be about the prettiest thing in these
parts. But the waterfall fell flat, and the
brook was naught. From these dismal
conceits suggested to me on the spot, the
unhealthy tone of my mind may be gathered.
Returning, then, by the back of the house, in
no very contented frame of mind, I passed
one of the windows opening on the ground;
whence sounds of voices came. Here was the
scene of festivity, and right merry they
appeared. It was Madame's own little
boudoir. These French folk can enjoy
themselves, I said, with a sigh. Officious, prying,
Monsieur le Curé, who might have been