Volume II Part 5 (1/2)
”Little sister, you are needlessly alar yourself”
Caillette held down her pretty little head and the hot blood rushed to her velvety cheeks, while her hands nervously clutched each other
”Caillette, what ails you?” asked Fanfaro
”Oh--tell me, Fanfaro, why do you always call me 'little sister'?”
”Does the expression displease you,man; ”is it the word 'little,' or the word 'sister'?”
”I did not say the expression displeasedsister?”
”Why do you callether like brother and sister?” he asked; ”you were six years old when your father took the deserted boy to his home”
”But you are not my brother,” persisted Caillette
”Perhaps not in the sense commonly associated with the term, but yet I love you like a brother Doesn't this explanation please you?”
”Yes and no I wished--”
”What would you wish?”
”I had rather not say it,” whispered Caillette, and hastily throwing her arms about Fanfaro she kissed him heartily
Fanfaro did not return the kiss; on the contrary he turned away and worked at the trapeze cord He divined as going on in Caillette, asirl loved him not as the sister loves the brother, but with a more passionate love Caillette was still unaware of it, but every day, every hour could explain her feelings to her, and Fanfaro feared that moment, for he--did not love her
Hoas this possible? He could hardly account for it hi, and yet he could not think of the lovely creature as his wife; and as an honest irl as to his feelings
”Caillette,” he said, now trying to appear cheerful, ”we must hurry up with our preparations, or the perforin before we are done”
Caillette nodded, and taking her artificial flowers again in her hand, she began to separate them At the same time the door opened and Firejaws appeared in colanced at the unexpected guests and heard the elderly lady say:
”Irene, what new caprice is it that brings you here, and ill the countess say if she hears of it?”
”Mada lady; ”and if you cannot do so, you are free to return to the castle”
”God forbid,” exclaiht
She was a perfect type of the governess, with long thin features, pointed nose, sray locks, and spectacles She wore a hat which fell to her neck, and a long colored shawl hung over her shoulders
The appearance of the young lady compared very favorably with that of the duenna A dark-blue riding costunificent for white feather sat coquettishly on her dark locks; fresh red lips, sparkling black eyes, a classically for appearance
The young lady appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old; a proud smile hovered about her lips and the dark eyes looked curiously about