^4l 'r //i/^few ' She entered the hall blooming as a rose.'''' CHAP. I. BIJOU'S COURTSHIPS A STUDY IN PINK. FROM THE FRENCH OP GYP, AUTHOR OF 'CHIFFON'S MARRIAGE." BY KATHERINE BERRY di ZEREGA. WITH ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY S. B. ASPELL. F. TENNYSON NEELY, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York. 1896. Copyright, 1896 By F. Tennyson Neely BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. The Marchioness de Bracieux was working for her poor. She thrust her large amber- shell crochet-needle into a fluffy ball of wool, and laying the ball on her lap, raised her eyes and regarded her grandnephew Jean de Blaye. "Jean, what in the world are you looking at that is so interesting ? You are standing there flattening your nose against the window exactly as you used to do when you were a small child and incorrigible." Jean de Blaye quickly turned his face, that had been pressed against the diatuond pane of the bay-window, and answered with a slight hesitation: " I? Why, nothing, aunt — nothing at all!" " Nothing at all? Well, you are looking at it with a great deal of attention!" "Don't believe him, grandmother," said Madame de Rueille in a beautiful grave voice. " He is always hoping that a cab may appear at the turn of the avenue." ^. "Is he expecting any one?" inquired the ^^ marchioness. ^,.- 2 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. Madame de Rneille explained, laughing: " No, but a cab, even a cab from Pont-sur- Loire, would remind him of Paris." "It is only one of Bertrade's jokes." " ' Even a cab from Pont-sur- Loire ?' " said the marchioness. " One vrould say that Pont- sur-Loire, with its division of cavalry, its theater, and its faculty, was quite a town! Ah! indeed, if the president. Monsieur Dubuis- son, were to hear you." " Well, it isn't quite Paris, but it might re- mind amateurs of it." Jean murmured without moving: " Oh, I don't care so much about being re- minded of Paris." Madame de Rueille observed him with some surprise, and turning toward her grandmother remarked: " One would almost say that he was sin- cere." '' Sincere, but absorbed," said the mar- chioness. And addressing a young abbe who was play- ing lotto with the Eueille children, she asked: " Monsieur I'Abbe, tell us is there anything interesting going on now on the terrace?" The abbe, who was seated with his back to the great bay-window, looked over his shoulder and answered at once: "I see nothing in the least interesting, Madame la Marquise." BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 3 "Nothing in the least," affirmed Jean. And leaving the window, he came and sat down on a divan. One of the little De Rueilles, neglecting his lotto counters and leaving the abbe to repeat the numbers with invariable patience, had perched himself on a chair, and contorting his features, seemed to be making signs to some one. " At whom are you making such horrible faces, little Marcel?" asked his grandmother. "At Bijou," said the child. "She is out there picking flowers." " Has she been there a long time?" It was the abbe who answered: " Ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, Ma- dame la Marquise. " " And you think Bijou is not an interesting object to look at ?" cried the old woman, laugh- ing. "You are hard to please. Monsieur I'Abbe!" The Abbe Courteil, who was quite new to the house and timid beyond belief, blushed from his collar to the roots of his very pale blond hair and murmured confusedly: '■'• Mon Dieu! Madame la Marquise. I thought when you asked if there were any- thing interesting taking place on the terrace you meant something extraordinary, and I didn't think that the presence of Mademoiselle Bij — of Mademoiselle Denyse, I mean to say. 4 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. who gathers flowers for her baskets every day at this hour and at this place, could be con- sidered " The sentence concluded in unintelligible fashion, and the abb6, highly embarrassed, went on shaking the numbers in a bag. "Poor abbe!" said Bertrade de liueHle in an undertone. "You are worrying him, grandmother !" "Why, no! Why, no! I'm not worry- ing him at all. You are exaggerating, little one." And after a moment's reflection Madame de Bracieux resumed: " So he is blind, this boy!" "What boy?" "Your abbe! Parhleu! He gives stupid answers!" "But, grandmother " " You see that I will never believe that any man could look at Bijou gathering flowers and not find her au object of interest!" "Never!" "A man — yes, but Monsieur I'Abbe is not exactly a man." "Ah ! What is he then, if you please?" "Dear me! A priest is not " " He is not a man to do stupid things — no! at least I prefer to think so. But he has eyes, a priest, all the same! You will surely agree BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 5 that if he has not the eyes of a man he at least has the eyes of a woman. You will allow your abb6 to have the eyes of a woman, will you not?" " But, grandmother, I'm not preventing him from having any kind of eyes he pleases." " Very good! ' Well, any woman who looks at Bijou can see that she is delightful to be- hold. "Why should not an abbe perceive this fact also?" " Poor abbe! You don't like him!" "I? Oh! You know, I think, that priests are made for churches, not for homes. With this reservation I like your abbe as well as other abbes. I like him negatively. I respect him." Bertrade began to laugh and said in caress- ing tones: ""It doesn't look like it. You are constantly tormenting him." " I tease him — as I tease you all." " Yes, but we are used to it; while he " "Well, I shall tease him no more. I shall be careful, but you can't imagine how much it will annoy me — I who am so fond of freedom of speech. Such an absurd idea of yours to engage an abbe for your children!" "It was Paul's. He was most anxious that the children should -^be educated by a priest — at least in the beginning. He is very relig- ious," 6 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. "But I also am very religious, and that is the very reason why I would never have had a priest for a tutor. Yes. If he is an intelli- gent man, you divert for the benefit of one, two, or more children, but in point of fact for a small number, an intellect whose professed occupation and whose true destiny was to di- rect a flock, to instruct, to pardon, to comfort creatures who in the majority of cases are more interesting than ourselves. If he is a block- head he will devote himself to conscientiously deforming the little being who is confided to his care. And in either case you are respon- sible for the evil that you do or the good that you prevent being done. Come! let me look at Bijou. That will amuse me more than talking about your abbe!" And the marchioness pointed to her grand- daughter, who was coming in like an animated basket of flowers. Denyse de Courtaix, nicknamed Bijou, was a wonderful little creature, lissome and slen- der, yet withal a mass of dim'ples, with large violet eyes, limpid and deep; a straight nose, slightly turned up at the end; a tiny mouth, very red, with the corners gayly raised, show- ing the short teeth of a milky whiteness. Her soft and silky hair was of that blond cendre, now almost a thing of the past. Her tiny ears were tinted like pink mother-of-pearl. These BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 7 tints not only reappeared in her cheeks, but in her forehead, her neck, and her hands, and their bright rosy Ulster irradiated the entire skin. Her dark, delicately penciled eyebrows nearly met across the pure, intelligent fore- head; they alone indicated that this frail and pretty creature had a strong will of her own. Bijou, who appeared to be about fifteen or •sixteen years old, had attained her majority eight days before, but her whole delicate and dainty person exhaled an aroma of childhood and spotless purity. Her charm, however, so penetrating and subtle, was rather that of a woman, and this contrast rendered Bijou per- plexing and rare. The result was that she turned the heads of the men, pleased the wom- en, and was adored by everybody. As soon as she entered the hall, blooming as a rose in the pinkish cloud of her muslin gown, and suspended from her neck, with pink rib- bons as well, a sort of market-basket overflow- ing with roses, every one surrounded her, rejoicing in the atmosphere of gayety that ac- companied her and that pervaded the spacious hall, somewhat somber and empty before her advent. Paul de Rueille, who was playing billiards with his brother-in-law, Henry de jBracieux, came and asked for a rose from the basket while Henry following him took one without 8 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. asking. The little De Eueilles, abandoning the abb6, who went on calling off the lotto numbers in a monotonous tone, made one bound toward the young girl and hung on to her with all their strength. Their mother called them back. " Do let Bijou alone. You are hurting her!" " Robert! Marcel! come back here!" said the abb6, who arose. Bijou protested. "Oh, no! Let them alone. I like it!" She took the basket off from her neck and went and placed it on the billiard-table, then suddenly stopping, exclaimed : " Ah! no. I must consider the carom." Henry de Bracieux murmured almost with emotion : " Isn't she lovely? She thinks of every- thing." "Come and kiss me, Bijou," said the marchioness. Denyse had just placed her basket on a divan. She selected a full-blown rose and ran to her grandmother, whom she kissed re- peatedly, in coaxing child-like fashion, then offering her the rose exclaimed: " It's the most beautiful of them all!" The tones of her voice were rather high, perhaps, but young r.nd clear, and the enun- ciation was admirably distinct. BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 9 "Have you seen Pierrot?" inquired the marchioness. " Pierrot ?" replied Bijou, pausing as if to reflect. "Oh! yes, I have seen him. He even came for a moment to help me pick my flowers, and then he went off to rejoin his father, who is shooting rabbits in the little woods." " I might have known it. That child never does anything!" " But, grandmother, this is his vacation." " Well, granting it is his vacation, it is none the less true that if he were given a tutor, it was natural that he should work." "But he really ought to have a little rest once in awhile, poor Pierrot, and his tutor also." ' ' They never have anything else. However, if my brother knows it and approves " "He quite approves to-day, for it was he who told them to go and look for him in the woods." "Who said anything about ^/tem.?" inquired the old woman in a mocking tone. "Ah! was the tutor also picking roses?" "Yes," said Denyse with her frank, sweet smile and without noticing her grandmother's sarcastic tones, " he was picking roses too." The marchioness replied, glancing at a tall young man who was just coming in: 10 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. " It probably amused him more than shoot- ing rabbits, for if he went to join your uncle in the woods he didn't stay with him very long." "Surely, no!" said Bijou, in surprise. Leaving her grandmother, she went up to the young man and said: "Didn't you find my uncle. Monsieur Girand ?" He grew very red. "Yes, mademoiselle — yes. We found Mon- sieur de Jonzae quite easily. Only I— I had to comeback to correct Pierrot's exercises." Wishing to explain, doubtless, his coming into the hall, he continued, with a slight embarrassment: "And — 1 came to see if I had left my books here. I thought — but I don't see them. " As he was going out, without taking his eyes off of Bijou, the marchioness, with an indulgent and amused air, called him back. "Are you not going to stay hei'e and smoke. Monsieur Girand ? Is there any hurry about the correction of those exercises?" "No, madarae," said the tutor quickly, " there is no hurry at all." The old woman leaned over to Madame de Rueille, who was silently working on an ad- mirable piece of tapestry, and smilingly ob- served to her: BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 11 " This one is not like your abb6." Bertrade raised her pretty head and replied seriously: " No!" " You seem to pity him." " I do indeed." "And why?" " Because this nice boy who came here fif- teen days ago as gay as a lark, and who has made himself liked by us all, will leave here sad and unhappy, with his heart full of grief or bitterness." "Oh, you^ always look on the darkest side. He thinks Bijou is a little love. He admires her — he likes to be near her, and there is an end of it." " You know very well, grandmother, that Bijou is adorable, and so attractive that every one loses his head." Here the marchioness drew attention to her grandnephew De Blaye, who since he had left the window seemed unconscious of everything that was going on around him, and rather in- dignantly observed: "Everyone? Not every one. Look at Jean. He is as blind as the abbe." With impassive features, motionless in his easy-chair, Jean de Blaye appeared to be dreaming, with a far-off look in his eyes. The young woman regarded him and replied: 1^ BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. "I fear it is a feigned blindness." "Oh, nonsense," said Madame de Bracieux, who was charmed at the idea. "You think that Bijou could interest Jean sufficiently to make him forget even for a little while his amusements, his horses, his theaters, his stupid life? Do you really think so?" "I do." "Since when?" "Just now. He told us with such convic- tion that he didn't care to be reminded of Paris that I was sure that he meant what he said. Then I asked myself what could have caused him to forget it. I searched — and I have found out." " Bijou?" "Exactly." "So much the better if that is so; but it doesn't appear so to me. He doesn't notice her." "When he is observed." " He seems sad — preoccupied." " One would be, naturally. Jean never does things by halves. If he falls in love — I mean seriously — he will love violently, and if he is violently in love with Bijou or perceives that he is likely to be, there is no cause for rejoic- ing. He cannot, no matter how much he may wish to, marry Bijou, can he? Not only be- cause he is her cousin, but still more, as he hasn't the requisite fortune." BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 13 " He has about 500,000 francs. Bijou has 200,000, to which I shall add 100,000— that makes 300,000; total between them, 800,000 francs." " Well, don't you see that Bijou with an in- come of 80,000 francs " "No. I am perfectly sure that she would think that quite enough. She makes her own dresses — one always says that, but in this case it is true. She is industrious and clever and understands how to superintend a household wonderfully well, as for the last four years she has looked after everything both here and in Paris. But I am the one who could never re- sign myself to the idea of a mediocre existence for her, and that's what she would have de- cidedly. God forbid that she should go and fall in love with Jean!" "Oh! I don't think it at all likely!" " For the creature is charming, and as it appears very much liked." ■' Very much. But Bijou is so flattered, so surrounded, so adored that she hasn't much leisure to love any one but herself." " And then she is such a child." And the marchioness regarded her grand- daughter with infinite tenderness. Standing near the billiard-table. Bijou was watching the game and laughing and teasing the players. A few steps from her, motion- 14 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. less, the young professor was contemplating her with ecstatic eye. Suddenly Jean de Blaye arose quickly and with an irritated air walked to the door that opened on the outside stair- case. ' ' Wait a moment !" cried Denyse. ' ' Wait till I give you a rose!" She leaned over the basket and picked out a yellow rose not quite half -blown, and came and put it in her cousin's button-hole. " There!" said she, drawing back with a sat- isfied smile, '' You look very nice now." Then going up to the tutor she said, with a delightfully graceful and kittenish air: "Monsieur Giraud, will you have a rose too?" . And as, overcome and almost trembling, the young man strove, without success, to put the flower in his button-hole, she took it away from him very gently. ' ' You don't know how. Let me arrange it, will you?" He was so tall that to reach him she had to stand on her toes; then she slipped in the flower slowly, with extreme care, and when she had finished, sweetly smiling and patting the shining lapel of the poor jacket, now quite destitute of form or color, she cried: " There! Now it is perfectly lovely!" Her eyes illumined with love, the marchion- BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 15 ess gazed at her grandchild, then said to Ber- trade, who also seemed to be admiring her cousin: "Ah! isn't she perfectly charming!" Madame de Rueille looked at the young tutor, who, quite pale, had remained standing in the middle of the hall, and answered sadly: "Poor boy!" "Again? Why, really, Monsieur Giraud seems to interest you a good deal!" "He does. I have a leaning to sad, sensi- tive natures, as I chance to be cheerful." "Oh! you are cheerful, are you? You have just said that Jean's blindness was feigned. Well, I consider that your cheerfulness is equally feigned — cheerful when you are ob- served!" Without answering, the young woman glanced at Bijou. "She is really gay and cheerful. Look at her, grandmother!" Bijou having divided some of the flowers among the children, turned to the Abbe Cour- teil and said: "1 want to decorate you, too. Monsieur I'Abbe. Look! Now, isn't this a beautiful rose? Ah! there never was one more beauti- ful." And she handed him a huge thorny, thickly leaved rose, resembling a cabbage. 16 BIJOU'S COUllTSUIP. The abb6, who had arisen and was still hold- ing the bag containing the lotto counters, drew back in alarm and murmured brokenly: " Mademoiselle, it is a superb flower, only I shouldn't know where to put it. The button- hole in my cassock is very small. The stem would never fit in it. I am very grateful to you, mademoiselle — I am very much touched — but there is no place for it. " She laughed and answered: "There is a place in your belt. Monsieur I'Abbe — there — see. One would say that it was made for it!" Standing far back, she pushed the long stem of the flower into the belt of the cassock. He bowed awkwardly, and trying to express his gratitude exclaimed: '' I thank you, mademoiselle, for your kind- ness. I am very much touched — very much touched indeed." Every movement caused the rose to droop over the belt, that was much too lose and limp for it, so that it bobbed up and down absurd- ly, standing out in bold relief against the cas- sock, which hung in spiral curves around the abbe's meager form. "When she had decorated everybody Bijou declared: " Now T am going to arrange my baskets." " Where?" asked Monsieur de Rueille. BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 17 " Why, in the dining-room, in the drawing- room, in the vestibule — here, everywhere!" Several voices cried : " We are going to help you!" "Oh! indeed you're not. Instead of help- iiUT rne you will only bother me awfully!" She took up her basket again and went out, gay and rosy in the flying cloud of her skirts, as rosy as herself. And when she had disap- peared a veil of sadness fell over the large hall. No one spoke. Nothing could be heard but the clicking of the balls and the rustling of the counters, which the abbe was still shak- ing methodically, observing system in this as in everything. At last Henry de Bracieux said: "Grandmother, you ought never to allow Bijou to drop us like that, particularly at Bracieux, because at Paris one can manage; but here when she leaves us we are lost. She is the sunbeam that illumines all the house." The marchioness shrugged her shoulders. "You are talking nonsense. You forget that before long Bijou will ' drop ' us, as you so elegantly express it, for good and all." " What! is she going to be married?" "Dear me! I hope so." "Have you any one in view?" asked Mon- sieur de Pvueille, with an air of displeasure. "No, no one at all. But, then, some one 18 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. may present himself any day. No one here would answer for Bijou, but it is likely that in Paris this winter " Henry de Bracieux, a handsome youth of twenty-five, who strongly resembled his sister Bortrade, listened with contracted brows and a serious face. He missed making an easy carOm, and as his brother-in-law expressed some surprise he exclaimed: "Ah, yut! It is too hot to play billiards. I am going to sleep in the hammock." His sister looked at him as he went out and fiiurmured in the marchioness' ear: "He, too!" The old woman replied with some vexation: " Bijou cannot very well marry all the family. But we must stop talking — here she is!" And in fact the delicate outline of the young girl's figure appeared at the door which opened on the exterior staircase. Without entering she asked: "How many people for dinner on Friday, grandmother?" " Dear me! I haven't counted them. There are the La Balues " " That makes four." " The Jugencourts " "Six." " Little Bernfes— ^" BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 19 "Seven." " Madame de Nezel " "Eight." " That's all." " And we are ten, to begin with. That makes eighteen. We might have twenty. Will you invite the Dubuissons, grandmother? It will give me so much pleasure to have Jeanne." " I should like nothing better. I'll go and write to them now." ,"It isn't worth while. I have to go to' Pout-sur-Loire for some shopping, and I will invite them. " "What! my poor little dear! You are go- ing to town in all this heat?" "I really ought to see about the dinner. To-day is Tuesday, and then I have to see Mother Eaf ut and engage her for several days. I have no gowns, and there are the races, the balls " " Oh!" said the marchioness, with some annoyance, " are you going to have that horrid old woman here again?" " She is such an honest woman and she does such good work. " "Possibly; but I don't like her looks." "Oh, grandmother, it is true that she isn't pretty, but Mother Rafut is old and poor. One doesn't make much money when one is a 20 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. dresser at the Pont-sur-Loire theater at night and goes out sewing by the day to some of the houses in town. Old age and poverty do not improve one's looks. And then she suits me so well; and as she is very badly paid by the actresses, or not paid at all, she is so happy to be here, well paid, well fed, and well treated." She was standing behind Madame de Bracieux's easy -chair, and she added coax- ingly, winding her pretty pink arms around her neck: "It is a charity, grandmother — an act of charity, not only to Mother Kafut, but to me." The marchioness replied: " You may have your frightful old woman — have her as long as you please!" " Then an I'evoi?', a tantotP'' " How are you going down there — in the victoria?" " No— in the village cart. I shall go more quickly. I can go in the village cart in twenty- five minutes." " And you are going to drive ?" " Why, yes, grandmother." " In this heat ? You will have a sunstroke!" Monsieur de Rueille then proposed: "Would you like me to drive you, Bijou? I have to buy some tobacco, some powder, and two fishing-rods to replace those that Pierrot BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 21 has broken. I shall be delighted to go to town." *' And I enchanted to have you drive me." " When shall we leave ?" " At once, if you please !" As they were going out the marchioness cried after them: "Don't go too fast down the hills ! Take care not to have any accidents !" And Bijou answered laughingly: " Don't worry, grandmother. Nothing ever happens to me 1" 22 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. n. As they were driving through Pont-sur- Loire that evening on their return to Bracieux, Monsieur de Rueille said to Denyse: " Well, do you know, my little Bijou, that one does not pass unnoticed when one is with you ? Ah, no, indeed !" She looked at the passers-by, who were turning around to gaze after her with manifest interest, and replied: " It is my pink gown that " " No, it isn't your gown at all. They are looking at you !" Her large violet eyes opened still wider as she asked: "At me? But why?" " Oh ! little Bijou, it isn't right for you to try to deceive your old cousin!" With a still more mystified air she ques- tioned : "I try to deceive?" " Dame ! It looks like it ! It isn't possible that you don't know how pretty you are ? In the first place, you have eyes Then they tell you often enough for " BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. )iS "They tell me? Who do you mean tells me?" " Why, everybody ! Even I, vi'ho am almost your uncle, and also almost venerable." " 'Almost my uncle,' no, as Bertrode hap- pens to be my fii-st cousin; and as to being 'almost venerable ' " She stopped a moment and burst out laugh- ing. " You flatter yourself." " Alas ! no ! I am nearly forty- two." She regarded him with a surprised air and said: "Dear me! You don't look it!" "Thank you! There! Do j'ou see how all the natives are staring at you? I can assure you. Bijou, that when I come here by myself to do my shopping they don't look at me with so much eagerness." "But I tell you it is the pink gown that astonishes them." "^Why should it astonish them? You often come to Pont-sur-Loire and you are always in pink." Since she had left off mourning for her parents, who had been dead for four years, Denyse had always worn pink. She said it was because her grandmother liked to see her in it. In any case, a very faint, delicate pink, the sort of fallen-rose-leaf effect that she 24 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. always wore and that was precisely the tint of her skin, was wonderfully becoming to her. In damp or cold weather she always wore long dark cloaks that entirely concealed her figure, and when she emergnd from these somber coverings, rosy and fresh as a flower, she dif- fused an atmosphere of light and radiance. Her gowns were of batiste, muslin, and wool, materials comparatively cheap. The most that she ever permitted herself was some little taffetas or foulard. And what simplicity of form! Always the same little pleated blouses, the same plain skirts; never the slightest ornament, hardly even in winter some light little cape of fur. After appearing to reflect for a moment she said: "You are right! I always do wear pink. Do you think it is ugly?" " Ugly? Great heavens! I think it is most fascinating. I repeat. Bijou, that if I were not such an old man I should be making love to you all the time!" "You are not an old man!" " Thank you again. But if you don't think I am exactly an old man, which in fact is open to dispute, at least I am a married man." "That is true, and so much the better for you; for there are no men more stupid and annoying than those who make love." BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 25 ** Then you must see a fearful lot of stupid and annoying people." "Why?" "Because every one makes love to you, more or less." " Why, no. Think for a moment. I have been isolated like a savage; for while papa and mamma were alive they were always ill and I was shut up with them, never seeing a soul, and it isn't quite four years now since I have seen any people." " Oh, yes. Quite enough of them, I should say." " One would think that it displeased you." She glanced sideways at Rueille, her eyes gleaming between the half-closed lids, while he answered, growing rather nervous despite his efforts: "Displeased me? And why? Have I any- thing to do with your life? Have I any au- thority where you are concerned?" " Which means that if you had any author- ity?" "Well, it is true there are many changes and reforms I should make — that I should advise, I mean to say." "For example?" " For instance, I would not allow you, if I were your grandmother, to be so charming — so gracious to every one. I should like to keep 26 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. you for myself a little more — to prevent you from giving so much of yourself to strangers." Thoughtfully and almost sadly she replied: " Well, perhaps you are right." *' Particularly as we shall have you to our- selves for so short a time." Her great, sweet, innocent eyes stared at Paul de Rueille, who resumed: " You will marry soon — you will leave us " Bijou began to laugh. " How you go on! There is no question of my marrying at present that I know of." " None, in fact. At least I don't think so. But on principle that is the all-important question, and grandmother thinks of nothing else." " Oh, yes! But then I am not like her, for I myself never think of it at all." She added, suddenly growing serious: *' Besides, my marriage is problematical." •' Problematical?" *'^ Mon Dieu, yes. In the first place, I wish to be married by a person who cares for me." "Well, don't worry. You won't have any trouble about that." She concluded, and her clear voice grew almost grave: *' I should also like to care for him." " You will care for him. One always likes one's husband, and he will be happy." BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. 27 " Who do you mean?" " The man whom you will love." " I hope so. I should do my best to make him so." Monsieur de Rueille seemed irritated and cross, and said, as if he wished to discourage this dream of Deuyse: " Yes, but suppose you should never meet such a person?" " Well, then, I should ' dress Saint Cather- ine's hair;' that's all there is about it. But I don't see why I shouldn't meet him. I don't ask for impossibilities, after all. " In a teasing and rather agressive tone Rueille replied: " Is it indiscreet to ask what you desire?" "Oh! not the least in the world, for I can only tell you what I have said before — ' I wish to love him. ' Truly. I don't care for money. I neither understand nor do I care for money." She turned toward her cousin, and looking him straight in the face ended by saying: "And so, do you see, I could very well make such a marriage as Bertrode's." " With another husband?" he murmured. Without the least embarrassment she an- swered sweetly and unafifectedly, her face wreathed in smiles: " Why, no! Why, no! I think the husband is good enough." ^8 BIJOU'S COURTSHIP. Monsieur de Rueille did not reply. He was affected despite himself by the thought that Bijou could have loved him. He found the evening air delicious, and never had tlie rays of the setting sun slowly sinking into the Loire appeared to him more luminous. The little cart was so narrow that each vibration caused his elbow to brush the young girl's arm, while the locks of her fine blond hair that had escaped from the large straw hat swept his burning cheek. Bijou perceived his preoccupation and laughingly observed: " It seems to me that you are not listening much to the description of my ' ideal.' " "Why, yes!" "Why, no! That reminds me: have we executed all our commissions?" She took a long list from her pocket and be- gan to read it over: " Ices. " Little cakes. "Fish. "The Dubuissons. " Speak to the butcher. " Pink gauze. " Mother Rafut. " Hat. ' ' Pierrot's books, " Henry's cartridges." BIJOU'S COURTSHIP,