el's account, according to the custom of lovers,
and revenged himself in a small way by telling Josephine in her ear
"that the colonel produced on his mind the effect of an intolerable
puppy."

Josephine colored up and looked at him with a momentary surprise. She
said quietly, "Military men do give themselves some airs, but he is very
amiable at bottom. You must make a better acquaintance with him, and
then he will reveal to you his nobler qualities."--"Oh! I have no
particular desire," sneered unlucky Edouard. Sweet as Josephine was,
this was too much for her: she said nothing; but she quietly turned
Edouard over to Aubertin, and joined Rose, and under cover of her had a
sweet timid chat with her falsely accused.

This occupied the two so entirely that Edouard was neglected. This hurt
his foible, and seemed to be so unkind on the very first day of his
return that he made his adieus to the baroness, and marched off in
dudgeon unobserved.

Rose missed him first, but said nothing.

When Josephine saw he was gone, she uttered a little exclamation, and
looked at Rose. Rose put on a mien of haughty indifference, but the
water was in her eyes.

Josephine looked sorrowful.

When they talked over everything together at night, she reproached
herself. "We behaved ill to poor Edouard: we neglected him."

"He is a little cross, ill-tempered fellow," said Rose pettishly.

"Oh, no! no!"

"And as vain as a peacock."

"Has he not some right to be vain in this house?"

"Yes,--no. I am very angry with him. I won't hear a word in his favor,"
said Rose pouting: then she gave his defender a kiss. "Yes, dear," said
Josephine, answering the kiss, and ignoring the words, "he is a dear;
and he is not cross, nor so very vain, poor boy! now don't you see what
it was?"

"No."

"Yes, you do, you little cunning thing: you are too shrewd not to see
everything."

"No, indeed, Josephine; do tell me, don't keep me waiting: I can't bear
that."

"Well, then--jealous! A little."

"Jealous? Oh, what fun! Of Camille? Ha! ha! Little goose!"

"And," said Josephine very seriously, "I almost think he would be
jealous of any one that occupied your attention. I watched him more or
less all the evening."

"All the better. I'll torment my lord."

"Heaven forbid you should be so cruel."

"Oh! I will not make him unhappy, but I'll tease him a little; it is not
in nature to abstain."

This foible detected in her lover, Rose was very gay at