g Charles, uttered a howl of distress
and terror, and sought refuge behind Mrs. Grivois, who bitterly said to
Georgette:

"It seems to me, miss, that you might dispense with exciting your dog
thus, and setting him upon mine."

"It was doubtless for the purpose of protecting this respectable but
ugly animal from similar alarms, that you tried to make us lose Frisky
yesterday, by driving her into the street through the little garden
gate. But fortunately an honest young man found Frisky in the Rue de
Babylone, and brought her back to my mistress. However," continued
Georgette, "to what, madame, do I owe the pleasure of seeing you this
morning?"

"I am commanded by the Princess," replied Mrs. Grivois, unable to
conceal a smile of triumphant satisfaction, "immediately to see Miss
Adrienne. It regards a very important affair, which I am to communicate
only to herself."

At these words Georgette became purple, and could not repress a slight
start of disquietude, which happily escaped Grivois, who was occupied
with watching over the safety of her pet, whom Frisky continued to snarl
at with a very menacing aspect; and Georgette, having quickly overcome
her temporary emotion, firmly answered: "Miss Adrienne went to rest very
late last night. She has forbidden me to enter her apartment before mid
day."

"That is very possible: but as the present business is to obey an order
of the Princess her aunt, you will do well if you please, miss, to
awaken your mistress immediately."

"My mistress is subject to no one's orders in her own house; and I will
not disturb her till mid-day, in pursuance of her commands," replied
Georgette.

"Then I shall go myself," said Mrs. Grivois.

"Florine and Hebe will not admit you. Indeed, here is the key of the
saloon; and through the saloon only can the apartments of Miss Adrienne
be entered."

"How! do you dare refuse me permission to execute the orders of the
Princess?"

"Yes; I dare to commit the great crime of being unwilling to awaken my
mistress!"

"Ah! such are the results of the blind affection of the Princess for her
niece," said the matron, with affected grief: "Miss Adrienne no longer
respects her aunt's orders; and she is surrounded by young hare-brained
persons, who, from the first dawn of morning, dress themselves out as if
for ball-going."

"Oh, madame! how came you to revile dress, who were formerly the
greatest coquette and the most frisky and fluttering of all the
P