ep Nicolas
here, for there is no need to send children of five years old scouring
the roads. I shall also keep Gervais and Claire. But you may take all
the others if you like, and your father shall lead the way."

Rose, however, still merrily laughing, clung to her plan. "No, no,
mamma, you must come as well; everybody must come; it was promised.
Ambroise and Andree, you see, are like a royal couple from a neighboring
kingdom. My brother Ambroise, having won the hand of a foreign princess,
is going to present her to us. And so, to do them the honors of our own
empire, we, Frederic and I, must go to meet them, attended by the whole
Court. You form the Court and you cannot do otherwise than come. Ah what
a fine sight it will be when we spread out through the country on our
way home again!"

Marianne, amused by her daughter's overflowing gayety, ended by laughing
and giving way.

"This will be the order of the march," resumed Rose. "Oh! I've planned
everything, as you will see! As for Frederic and myself, we shall go on
our bicycles--that is the most modern style. We will also take my maids
of honor, my little sisters Louise, Madeleine, and Marguerite, eleven,
nine, and seven years old, on their bicycles. They will look very well
behind me. Then Gregoire can follow on his wheel; he is thirteen, and
will do as a page, bringing up the rear of my personal escort. All the
rest of the Court will have to pack itself into the chariot--I mean
the big family wagon, in which there is room for eight. You, as Queen
Mother, may keep your last little prince, Nicolas, on your knees.
Papa will only have to carry himself proudly, as befits the head of a
dynasty. And my brother Gervais, that young Hercules of seventeen, shall
drive, with Claire, who at fifteen is so remarkable for common sense,
beside him on the box-seat. As for the illustrious twins, those high and
mighty lords, Denis and Blaise, we will call for them at Janville, since
they are waiting for us there, at Madame Desvignes'."

Thus did Rose rattle on, exulting over the scheme she had devised.
She danced, sang, clapped her hands, and finally exclaimed: "Ah! for a
pretty cortege this will be fine indeed."

She was animated by such joyous haste that she made the party start much
sooner than was necessary, and they reached Janville at half-past nine.
It was true, however, that they had to call for the others there. The
house in which Madame Desvignes had taken refuge after h