, 'but
only to you! and only biccause to say any mo' they are yet af-raid!
Mademoiselle, those both, they are both in love to you!'

"And when Melanie say that, Mlle. Aline take the both hand' of Melanie in
her both han' and ask her if she ain't herseff put them both, Castanado,
Beloiseau, up to that--to fall in love to her. And pretty soon Melanie
she's compel' to confezz that, not with word', but juz' with the
fore-head on the knee of mademoiselle and crying like babie. And she say
she's sin'. And yet same time while she h-ask' mademoiselle to pray the
good God and the mother of God to forgive that sin, she h-ask her to pray
also that they'll make De l'Isle to love her.

"Biccause, she say, 'tis those unfortunate rosebud' of sentimental
plaisanterie he give her what firz' make her to love him. And
mademoiselle she ag-ree' to that if Melanie she'll tell that whole story
also to her mother; biccause mademoiselle she see what a hole that put
them both in, her and Melanie, when she, mademoiselle, is bound to know
he's paying, De l'Isle, all his real intention' to herseff. And Melanie
she's in agonie and say no-no-no! but if mademoiselle will tell it, yes!
And by reason that she's kep' that from her mother sinze the firz', she
say tell not Mme. Alexandre but Mme. Castanado, even when mademoiselle
say if Mme. Castanado then also monsieur; biccause madame she'll
certainly make that condition, and biccause monsieur he can assist her to
commenze that whole businezz over, French way. And same time Melanie she
take very li'l' stock in that French way, by reason that, avter all,
those De l'Isle, though their money's gone, are still pretty high-life.

"And tha'z how it come that those Castanado' have to tell me. Biccause
madame she cann' skip ar-ound pretty light, you know, and biccause they
think my, eh--pull--with those De l'Isle' is the moze of anybody, and
biccause I require to know how they are sure 'tis uzeless any mo' for
_my_ son, or _their_ son, than for the son of De l'Isle, to sed the heart
on Mlle. Aline. Also tha'z to egsplain me why Mlle. Aline say if all
those intention' to her don't finizh righd there, she got to stop coming
ad Mme. Alexandre. And of co'se! You see that, I su'pose?"

"And where was young Dubroca in all this?"

"Ah, another migsture! He was nowhere. Any'ow, tha'z how he feel; and
those other three boy' they di'n' feel otherwise. You see? We coul'n'
egsplain them anything--ab-out Ml