ng of earnest
deference to everything that fell from my lips, however light or casual,
for which he seemed to watch with the utmost eagerness.

He never joked with _me_, though he was doing so continually with the
others; not that he was in the least degree grave or formal, much less
stiff or affected; but rather that he seemed desirous of proving to me
that he was not a mere butterfly of society, but had deeper ideas, and
higher aspirations, than the every day world around us.

When he was going away, he for the first time put out his hand to me _a
l'anglaise_, and as I shook hands with him, our eyes met once more, and
I believe I again blushed a little; for though he dropped his gaze
instantly, and bowed low, taking off his hat, he pressed my fingers very
gently, ere he let them fall, and then turning to take his leave of the
Judge and Mr Selwyn, who had just joined us, mounted his horse--a very
fine hunter, by the way, which he sat admirably--again bowed low, and
cantered off, followed by his groom, as well mounted as himself.

He was not well out of sight, before, as usual, he became the topic of
general discussion.

"What a charming person," said Caroline. "So full of spirit and
vivacity, and yet so evidently a man of mind and good feeling. Where
did you pick him up, Valerie?"

"He is an old friend, I told you, of Monsieur Gironac's, and was calling
there by accident when he met Auguste, and since that he has been
exceedingly kind and civil to him. That is the whole I know about him."

"Well, he is very handsome," said Caroline; "don't you think so,
Valerie?"

"Yes," I answered, quite composedly, "very handsome, a little
effeminate-looking, perhaps."

"Oh! no, not in the least," said Caroline; "or if he is, so quick and
clever and spirited-looking that it quite takes all that away."

"Caroline," said Selwyn, laughing, "you have no right to have eyes to
see, or ears to hear, or mind to comprehend beauty, or wit, or any other
good quality, in any one save me, your lord and master."

"You, you monster!" she replied, laughing gaily, "I never thought you
one bit handsome, or witty, or dreamed that you had one good quality. I
only married you, you know as well as I do, to get away from school, and
from the atrocious tyranny of my music-mistress there. You need not
look fie! at me, Valerie, for I'm too big to be put in the corner, now,
and he won't let you whip me."

"I think he ought to whip you, himsel