ng of their driver, who also wished
to contribute to the music. Inside there were now seven people for six
places, for if the three children were small, they were at the same time
so restless that they fully took up their share of room. First, face
to face, there were Ambroise and Andree, the betrothed couple who were
being honored by this glorious welcome. Then, also face to face, there
were the high and mighty rulers of the region, Mathieu and Marianne, the
latter of whom kept little Nicolas, the last prince of the line, on her
knees, he braying the while like a little donkey, because he felt so
pleased. Then the last places were occupied by the rulers' granddaughter
and grandson, Mademoiselle Berthe and Monsieur Christophe, who were as
yet unable to walk long distances. And the chariot rolled on with much
majesty, albeit that for fear of the rain the curtains of stout white
linen had already been half-drawn, thus giving the vehicle, at a
distance, somewhat of the aspect of a miller's van.

Further back yet, as a sort of rear-guard, was a group on foot, composed
of Blaise, Denis, Madame Desvignes, and her daughters Charlotte and
Marthe. They had absolutely refused to take a fly, finding it more
pleasant to walk the mile and a half which separated Chantebled from
Janville. If the rain should fall, they would manage to find shelter
somewhere. Besides, Rose had declared that a suite on foot was
absolutely necessary to give the procession its full significance. Those
five last comers would represent the multitude, the great concourse of
people which follows sovereigns and acclaims them. Or else they might
be the necessary guard, the men-at-arms, who watched for the purpose of
foiling a possible attack from some felon neighbor. At the same time it
unfortunately happened that worthy Madame Desvignes could not walk very
fast, so that the rear-guard was soon distanced, to such a degree indeed
that it became merely a little lost group, far away.

Still this did not disconcert Rose, but rather made her laugh the more.
At the first bend of the road she turned her head, and when she saw
her rear-guard more than three hundred yards away she raised cries of
admiration. "Oh! just look, Frederic! What an interminable procession!
What a deal of room we take up! The cortege is becoming longer and
longer, and the road won't be long enough for it very soon."

Then, as the three maids of honor and the page began to jeer
impertinently, "