Part 44 (2/2)

She had fainted away.

”Ah! well, keep out of the way, if you please, papa,” said Dr. Mossy, as Madame presently reopened her eyes; ”no wonder you fainted; you have finished some hard work--see; here; no; Clarisse, dear, take this.”

Father and son stood side by side, tenderly regarding her as she revived.

”Now, papa, you may kiss her; she is quite herself again, already.”

”My daughter!” said the stately General; ”this--is my son's ransom; and, with this,--I withdraw the Villivicencio ticket.”

”You shall not,” exclaimed the laughing lady, throwing her arms about his neck.

”But, yes!” he insisted; ”my faith! you will at least allow me to remove my dead from the field.”

”But, certainly;” said the son; ”see, Clarisse, here is Madame, your aunt, asking us all into the house. Let us go.”

The group pa.s.sed out into the Rue Royale, Dr. Mossy shutting the door behind them. The sky was blue, the air was soft and balmy, and on the sweet south breeze, to which the old General bared his grateful brow, floated a ravis.h.i.+ng odor of--

”Ah! what is it?” the veteran asked of the younger pair, seeing the little aunt glance at them with a playful smile.

Madame Delicieuse for almost the first time in her life, and Dr. Mossy for the thousandth--blushed.

It was the odor of orange-blossoms.

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