nce worthy of
a princess; there, she has taken off her hat, and shakes out her raven
tresses as a bird does its feathers; it delights my old eyes to see her
again. Come, let's go down and welcome her."

So Blazius and his companions hastened down to the court, and met
Zerbine just as she turned to enter the house.

The impetuous girl rushed at the pedant, threw her arms around his neck,
and kissed him heartily, crying, "I must kiss your dear, jolly, ugly old
face, just the same as though it were young and handsome, for I am so
glad, so very glad to see it again. Now don't you be jealous, Herode,
and scowl as if you were just going to order the slaughter of the
innocents; wait a minute! I'm going to kiss you, too; I only began with
my dear old Blazius here because he's the ugliest."

And Zerbine loyally fulfilled her promise. Then giving a hand to each of
her companions, went up-stairs between them to the room Maitre Bilot had
ordered to be made ready for her. The moment she entered it she threw
herself down into an arm-chair standing near the door, and began to
draw long deep breaths, like a person who has just gotten rid of a heavy
load.

"You cannot imagine," she said after a little, "how glad I am to get
back to you again, though you needn't go and imagine that I am in love
with your old phizes because of that; I'm not in love with anybody,
Heaven be praised! I'm so joyful because I've gotten back into my own
element once more. Everything is badly off out of its own element, you
know. The water will not do for birds, nor the air for fishes. I am an
actress by nature, and the atmosphere of the theatre is my native air;
in it alone do I breathe freely; even its unpleasant odours are sweet to
my nostrils. Real, everyday life seems very dull and flat. I must have
imaginary love affairs to manage for other people, and take part in the
whirl of romantic adventures to be found only on the stage, to keep me
alive and happy. So I've come back to claim my old place again. I hope
you haven't found any one else to fill it; though of course I know
that you couldn't get anybody to really replace me. If you had I should
scratch her eyes out, that I promise you, for I am a real little devil
when my rights are encroached upon, though you might not think it."

"There's no need for you to show your prowess in that way," said the
tyrant, "for we have not had any one to take your role, and we're
delighted, overjoyed, to have you bac