obey her; with my mother's
permission I will go up to the chateau, and excuse myself for opposing
her wishes."

"How unkind of you, Victorine!" said Lisette, bursting into a passion of
tears, "for I told Madame you would be sure to accompany me, and she said
it would improve the procession if my two sisters followed me and the
Baron."

Victorine appeared vexed, and, taking Lisette's hand, she said, "would
you wish me to do what I think wrong to give you an hour's amusement? I
cannot act against my conscience, dear sister. I cannot accompany you to
chapel."

Lisette flung her hand from her as she replied, "Do as you like,
Victorine, but it is hard that the very reason which makes me elected
Rosiere should cause such jealousy in my two elder sisters. I might have
hoped that Caliste and Victorine would rejoice in the honour done me."

Victorine appeared more and more grieved by this answer, but she said no
more; and, having obtained her mother's consent, she went to the chateau
to excuse herself to Madame la Baronne.

That lady received her kindly, and even approved her conduct, though she
did not agree in her opinions. She regretted her remaining an alien from
the Romish church, and promised her, if she would renounce her heresy,
she should be the elected Rosiere of the following year. But this offer
did not tempt Victorine; she could not behold the unhappy state of her
sisters without dreading to become their rival.

Madame then expressed her hope that Victorine would accompany her sister
to the fete at the chateau; and, with a complimentary message to her
mother, she dismissed the young girl.

And now came the important business of preparing dresses for the fete.
The Rosiere and her twelve female friends were all to be attired in
white, and all, with the exception of the Rosiere, were to wear blue
ribbon scarfs placed over one shoulder and tied under the other. They
were to have no coverings on their heads, for the fete was in the warm
month of June, but the Rosiere was to wear a crown of roses, made by her
twelve friends.

Now D'Elsac was an hourly witness of the patience of Victorine. She it
was who made her sister's dresses, for Lisette was in and out of the
cottage every instant to talk of the fete, whilst Caliste felt too
bitterly to set herself to work for an affair which she could not bear to
think about. Mimi was too young, and the mother too old to employ
themselves, and thus it was left to V