his o'cupation, or hers, up to the eyebrow'. Melanie and Mlle.
Aline they work' with Mme. Alexandre, though not precizely together,
biccause Melanie she show' only an ability to keep those account' and to
assist keeping shop, whiles Mlle. Aline she rimain' always up-stair'
employing that great talent tha'z too valu'ble to be interrupt'."

"Doesn't she keep the books now?"

"Yes, but tha'z only to assist Melanie whiles Melanie she's, eh, away.
Dubroca he go' into businezz with his father, likewise Castanado with his
father, but De l'Isle he's made a secretary in City-hall. So he have mo'
time than those other' and he go' oft-en into society, and he get those
manner' and cuztom' of society. And then that young Dubroca biggen very
plain to pay his intention' to Melanie, and we are all pretty glad to
notiz that, biccause whiles he don't got that dash of De l'Isle, he's
modess, yet still brave to a perfegtion; and he's square and got plenty
sense, and he's steady and he's kind. Every way they are suit' to each
other and we think--if that poor old rue Royale _con_-tinue to run down,
that will even be good to join those two businezz' together. And
bisside', sinze a li'l' shaver Dubroca he ain't never love nobody else,
only Melanie.

"But also De l'Isle, like Dubroca, he was always pretty glad of every
egscuse to drop in there at Mme. Alexandre and pass word with Melanie.
'Twas easy to see 'tis to Mlle. Aline he's in love and he come talk to
Melanie biccause tha'z the nearess he can reach to Mlle. Aline egcep'
juz' saying good-day whiles passing on street or at church door. Oh, he
behave the perfec' gen'leman, and still tha'z one reason she get that
li'l' 'Ector. Yes, we all see that, only Melanie she don't. So Mlle.
Aline she ezcape' him all she could, but, with that dash he's got, he
persevere' to hang on. And tha'z the miztake they both did, him and
Melanie, in doing that American way, keeping that to themselve' instead
of--French way--telling their parent'.

"Then another thing tranzpire'. My son and that son of Castanado bigin,
both--but that come' mo' later. Any'ow one day Melanie she bring Mlle.
Aline a note from De l'Isle sol-iciting if she and Melanie will go at
matinee with him and Dubroca. And when mademoiselle bigin to make
egscuse' Melanie implore' her to go, biccause Mme. Alexandre say no
Creole girl cann' go juz' with one man, or even with two. 'And mamma
she's right,' Melanie say--with tear',--'