Part 41 (1/2)

He answered in a joking way, but there was a troubled look on his face.

”Oh, as to me, it is an idea that I should like very much; but she would not; therefore it amounts to the same thing!”

Bijou came up to them just at that moment, gliding along with her light step. She was followed by young Bernes, who looked vexed about something.

”I cannot, really, mademoiselle,” he was saying, ”I a.s.sure you that I cannot get away from my friends that day.”

”Oh, yes, you can; mustn't he, grandmamma?” asked Denyse merrily, ”mustn't M. de Bernes come to dinner here on the day of the paper-chase? He is to be the hare, and the start is to be from the 'Cinq-Tranchees'--it is only a mile from Bracieux at the farthest.”

Madame de Bracieux was examining the young officer with interest, and there was a kindly look in her eyes.

”Why, certainly,” she said, ”he must come here to dinner; we shall all be so pleased.”

”You are very kind, madame, to invite me, but I was explaining to Mademoiselle de Courtaix that on that day, after the paper-chase, which the regiment is getting up for the benefit of the residents, I have promised faithfully to dine with several of my friends.” And glancing, in spite of himself, at Bijou, he added, ”And I regret it now, more than I can tell you!”

Turning round on her high heels, Denyse glided off again to the other end of the long room, where she was greeted by Pierrot with reproachful words.

”It was very mean of you to slope away from us like that, you know!”

exclaimed the boy.

M. de Jonzac, who was playing billiards with the abbe, was also keeping one ear open to catch what was going on round him. He now protested against the way in which Pierrot expressed himself, even supposing that the reproach itself were just.

”Well, yes,” answered his son, ”it's quite true that I'm not over-particular about what words I use, but that doesn't prevent what I said being true; and the others said it too, just now; I wasn't the only one.”

”Mademoiselle,” said Giraud, who was standing near the large bay-window, looking out at the sky, ”you said yesterday that you liked shooting stars--I have never seen so many as there are to-night.”

”Really?” replied Denyse, going to the window, and leaning her arms on the ledge, side by side with the tutor, ”are there as many as all that? What's that to the left?” she asked, bending forward. ”I can see something white on the terrace.”

”It is Mademoiselle Dubuisson, who is strolling about with her father and M. Spiegel.”

”Ah! supposing we went out to them--shall we?”

Giraud led the way at once, only too happy to go out for a stroll on this beautiful starry night. When they were near the terrace, she stopped suddenly.

”Perhaps we shall be _de trop_,” she said; ”they may be talking of private affairs. Let us go to the chestnut avenue, and they'll come to us if they want to.”

She descended the marble steps, and they were soon in the dark avenue, under the thick chestnut trees. The young man had followed her, his heart beating with excitement, almost beside himself with joy. They walked along for some little time without speaking, and then at last Bijou looked up, trying to catch a glimpse of the sky between the branches of the trees.

”We shall not see much of the shooting stars here,” she said.

”Oh, yes,” answered Giraud, who did not want to leave this shady walk, where he had Bijou all to himself, ”we can see them all the same.

Look, there's one, did you see it?”

”Not distinctly, and not long enough to be able to wish anything.”

”To wish anything? but what?”

”Oh! anything. Why! do you mean to say you did not know that when you see a shooting star you ought to wish something?”