essed me with
caution, "Do you think as Mis' Dimar would mind it ef now an' then I was
to step in fur Esmeraldy, an' set a little--just in a kinder neighborin'
way. Esmeraldy, she says you're so sosherble. And I haint been sosherble
with no one fur--fur a right smart spell. And it seems like I kinder
hanker arter it. You've no idea, Mister, how lonesome a man can git
when he hankers to be sosherble an' haint no one to be sosherble with.
Mother, she says, 'Go out on the Champs Elizy and promenard,' and I've
done it; but some ways it don't reach the spot. I don't seem to get
sosherble with no one. I've spoke to--may be through us speakin'
different languages, an' not comin' to a understandin'. I've tried
it loud an' I've tried it low an' encouragen', but some ways we never
seemed to get on. An' er Mis' Dimar wouldn't take no exceptions at me
a-drop-pin' in, I feel as ef I should be sorter uplifted--if she'd only
allow it once a week or even fewer."

"Monsieur," I replied with warmth, "I beg you will consider our _salon_
at your disposal, not once a week but at all times, and Madame Desmarres
would certainly join me in the invitation if she were upon the spot."

He released the lapel of my coat and grasped my hand, shaking it with
fervor.

"Now, that's clever, that is," he said. "An' its friendly, an' I'm
obligated to ye."

Since he appeared to have nothing further to say we went down-stairs
together. At the door we parted.

"I'm a-goin'," he remarked, "to the Champs Elizy to promenard. Where are
you a-goin'?"

"To the Boulevard Haussmann, Monsieur, to give a lesson," I returned. "I
will wish you good-morning."

"Good-mornin'," he answered. "_Bong_"--reflecting deeply for a
moment--"_Bong jore_. I'm a tryin' to learn it, you see, with a view to
bein' more sosherbler. _Bong jore_" And thus took his departure.

After this we saw him frequently. In fact it became his habit to follow
Mademoiselle Esmeralda in all her visits to our apartment. A few minutes
after her arrival we usually heard a timid knock upon the outer door,
which proved to emanate from Monsieur, who always entered with a
laborious "_Bong jore_" and always slipped deprecatingly into the least
comfortable chair near the fire, hurriedly concealing his hat beneath
it.

In him also my Clelie became much interested. On my own part I could
not cease to admire the fine feeling and delicate tact she continually
exhibited in her manner toward him. In time he