here! there!_" cried M. de Bois, with a gesture of impatience and
discouragement; "the fact is, that you laugh yourself,--_you_, who are
so forbearing!"

"Pardon me; you mistook"--

"You could not help it, I know. It is precisely that which discourages
me. And yet it is very odd! I have one method by which I can speak for
five minutes at a time without stopping or hesitating."

"Indeed! Why, then, do you not always employ that magical method in
society?"

"It would hardly be admissible in polite circles. Would you believe
it?--it is very absurd, but so is everything that appertains to us
unfortunate tongue-tied wretches."

"Tell me what your method is."

"I--I--I do not dare; you will only laugh at me again."

"No; I promise I will not."

"Well, then, my method is to become very much animated,--to lash myself
into a state of high excitement, and to hold forth as though I were
making an exordium,--to talk with furious rapidity, using the most
forcible expressions, the most emphatic ejaculations! Those unloose my
tongue! My words hurl themselves impetuously forward, as zouaves in
battle! Only, as you may conceive, this discourse is not of a very
classic nature, and hardly suited to the drawing-room,--especially, as I
receive great help, and rush on all the faster, for a few interjections
that come under the head of--of--of swear--ear--earing!"

"_Swearing?_" was all Madeleine could say, controlling a strong
inclination to merriment.

"Yes, downright swearing; employing strong expletives,--actual oaths!
Oh, it helps me more than you can believe. But just imagine the result
if I were to harangue Mademoiselle Bertha in this style! She
would--would--"

"Would think it very original, and, as she has a joyous temperament, she
might laugh immoderately. But she likes originality, and the very oddity
of the discourse might impress her deeply. Then, too, she is very
sympathetic, and she would probably be touched by the necessity which
compelled you to employ such an extraordinary mode of expression."

"Ah, if that were only true!"

"I think it _is_ true."

"Thank you! thank you!"

Madeleine was opening a skein of silk, and, extending it to M. de Bois,
she said: "Will you assist me? It is for Bertha I am working. Will you
hold this skein? It will save time."

Gaston, well pleased, stretched out his hands. Madeleine adjusted the
skein, and commenced winding.

"Besides, who knows?" she went on to say. "It seems