est
family?"

Poor Victorine coloured highly, and turned her head away from the group.

Mimi sprang forwards, and seized her hand, exclaiming, "If the best girl
in the village was to be Rosiere, where should we find another equal to
you, Victorine? Now own it, mother," continued the indulged child, "own
that Victorine is the most obedient and complaisant of us four."

Madame Durocher patted Mimi on the head, and held out her other hand to
Victorine, as she kindly said, "Well, my dear girl, I cannot help being
somewhat vexed; you are a good girl, Victorine, a very good girl; and it
is quite excusable in a mother to regret that her child does not share in
the triumphs of virtue. I have no fault to find with you, Victorine,
none whatever, and as Mimi says you would have as good a chance as any to
be Rosiere; what a sad pity it is then, that you have such foolish
opinions on some few points!"

"Dearest mother," replied Victorine, respectfully kissing her hand, "I am
content, if you are satisfied, not to try for the rose."

"Well, well," exclaimed Margoton, "I am proud of my girls, and I think
Felicie Durand has but little chance against them."

"You are right there, neighbour Durocher," replied the same person who
had spoken before. "You have, indeed, reason to be proud. How lovely
will your charming Lisette, or Caliste either, look at the feet of
Monsieur le Prieur, in the chapel, with the crown of roses on her brow!"

Again Lisette blushed as she smiled her thanks, whilst the beautiful eyed
Caliste, displeased at the evident preference given by their neighbour to
her sister's beauty, turned abruptly towards her mother, and inquired,
"if they had not better arrange something for the comfort of Monsieur
D'Elsac. My uncle's horse is still at the door," she said, "and he has
himself not been asked to take food in our cottage. Victorine has,
indeed, mentioned it to you, mother; but her words, no doubt, fell
unheeded." The manner, perhaps, more than the words of Caliste, was an
intimation to the neighbours to depart, and as they left the cottage, the
woman to whom she more particularly addressed her looks, vented her
displeasure in words.

"How intolerably proud that girl is!" she said; "and, after all, her
sister Lisette is by far handsomer. I think Victorine, too, is very
pretty; and as to Mimi, there is no doubt she will soon be her superior
in beauty."

"I like Caliste much better than Lisette," replied th