cloud was trailing like the smoke from a
chimney. I could see no more because I was lying on my back, my head
resting on my hands. Marie and Croisette, my brothers, were lying by me
in exactly the same posture, and a few yards away on the terrace,
Catherine was sitting on a stool Gil had brought out for her. It was
the second Thursday in August, and hot. Even the jackdaws were silent.
I had almost fallen asleep, watching my cloud grow longer and longer,
and thinner and thinner, when Croisette, who cared for heat no more
than a lizard, spoke up sharply, "Mademoiselle," he said, "why are you
watching the Cahors road?"

I had not noticed that she was doing so. But something in the keenness
of Croisette's tone, taken perhaps with the fact that Catherine did not
at once answer him, aroused me; and I turned to her. And lo! she was
blushing in the most heavenly way, and her eyes were full of tears, and
she looked at us adorably. And we all three sat up on our elbows, like
three puppy dogs, and looked at her. And there was a long silence.
And then she said quite simply to us, "Boys, I am going to be married
to M. de Pavannes."

I fell flat on my back and spread out my arms. "Oh, Mademoiselle!" I
cried reproachfully.

"Oh, Mademoiselle!" cried Marie. And he fell flat on his back, and
spread out his arms and moaned. He was a good brother, was Marie, and
obedient.

And Croisette cried, "Oh, mademoiselle!" too. But he was always
ridiculous in his ways. He fell flat on his back, and flopped his arms
and squealed like a pig.

Yet he was sharp. It was he who first remembered our duty, and went to
Catherine, cap in hand, where she sat half angry and half confused, and
said with a fine redness in his cheeks, "Mademoiselle de Caylus, our
cousin, we give you joy, and wish you long life; and are your servants,
and the good friends and aiders of M. de Pavannes in all quarrels, as--"

But I could not stand that. "Not so fast, St. Croix de Caylus" I said,
pushing him aside--he was ever getting before me in those days--and
taking his place. Then with my best bow I began, "Mademoiselle, we
give you joy and long life, and are your servants and the good friends
and aiders of M. de Pavannes in all quarrels, as--as--"

"As becomes the cadets of your house," suggested Croisette, softly.

"As becomes the cadets of your house," I repeated. And then Catherine
stood up and made me a low bow and we all kissed her hand in turn,