decline him?"

"Of course I decline him."

"Then, oh, you dear, darling Josephine, this is the prettiest present
you ever made me," and she kissed her vehemently.

Josephine was frightened now. She held Rose out at arm's length with
both hands, and looked earnestly into her, and implored her not to play
with fire. "Take warning by me."

Rose recommended her to keep her pity for Monsieur Riviere, "who had
fallen into nice hands," she said. That no doubt might remain on that
head, she whispered mysteriously, but with much gravity and conviction,
"I am an Imp;" and aimed at Josephine with her forefinger to point the
remark. For one second she stood and watched this important statement
sink into her sister's mind, then set-to and gambolled elfishly round
her as she moved stately and thoughtful across the grass to the chateau.

Two days after this a large tree was blown down in Beaurepaire park,
and made quite a gap in the prospect. You never know what a big thing a
leafy tree is till it comes down. And this ill wind blew Edouard good;
for it laid bare the chateau to his inquiring telescope. He had not
gazed above half an hour, when a female figure emerged from the chateau.
His heart beat. It was only Jacintha. He saw her look this way and that,
and presently Dard appeared, and she sent him with his axe to the fallen
tree. Edouard watched him hacking away at it. Presently his heart gave a
violent leap; for why? two ladies emerged from the Pleasaunce and walked
across the park. They came up to Dard, and stood looking at the tree and
Dard hacking it, and Edouard watched them greedily. You know we all love
to magnify her we love. And this was a delightful way of doing it. It
is "a system of espionage" that prevails under every form of government.
How he gazed, and gazed, on his now polar star; studied every turn,
every gesture, with eager delight, and tried to gather what she said, or
at least the nature of it.

But by and by they left Dard and strolled towards the other end of the
park. Then did our astronomer fling down his tube, and come running out
in hopes of intercepting them, and seeming to meet them by some strange
fortuity. Hope whispered he should be blessed with a smile; perhaps
a word even. So another minute and he was running up the road to
Beaurepaire. But his good heart was doomed to be diverted to a much
humbler object than his idol; as he came near the fallen tree he heard
loud cries for help, followed b