"
Any one but the complacent lieutenant would have been disconcerted
by Mademoiselle Marguerite's dry tone; but he did not even notice
it. The effort that he was making in his intense desire to be
eloquent and persuasive absorbed the attention of all his
faculties. "Then permit me to explain, mademoiselle," he resumed.
"We meet this evening for the first time, but our acquaintance is
not the affair of a day. For I know not how long my father and
mother have continually been chanting your praises. 'Mademoiselle
Marguerite does this; Mademoiselle Marguerite does that.' They
never cease talking of you, declaring that heart, wit, talent,
beauty, all womanly charms are united in your person. And they
have never wearied of telling me that the man whom you honored
with your preference would be the happiest of mortals. However,
so far I had no desire to marry, and I distrusted them. In fact,
I had conceived a most violent prejudice against you. Yes, upon
my honor! I felt sure that I should dislike you; but I have seen
you and all is changed. As soon as my eyes fell upon you, I
experienced a powerful revulsion of feeling. I was never so
smitten in my life--and I said to myself, 'Lieutenant, it is all
over--you are caught at last!'"
Pale with anger, astonished and humiliated beyond measure, the
young girl listened with her head lowered, vainly trying to find
words to express the feelings which disturbed her; but M.
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