y. "I
am forgetting her advice--but I shall always forget it, I'm afraid."

Mademoiselle de Pen-Hoel (who had intrepidly returned to Guerande on
the back of a hired horse), the Vicomtesse de Kergarouet, and Charlotte
found dinner ready, and were treated with the utmost cordiality, if
luxury were lacking, by the du Guenics. Mademoiselle Zephirine had
ordered the best wine to be brought from the cellar, and Mariotte had
surpassed herself in her Breton dishes.

The viscountess, proud of her trip with the illustrious Camille Maupin,
endeavored to explain to the assembled company the present condition of
modern literature, and Camille's place in it. But the literary topic
met the fate of whist; neither the du Guenics, nor the abbe, nor
the Chevalier du Halga understood one word of it. The rector and the
chevalier had arrived in time for the liqueurs at dessert.

As soon as Mariotte, assisted by Gasselin and Madame de Kergarouet's
maid, had cleared the table, there was a general and enthusiastic cry
for _mouche_. Joy appeared to reign in the household. All supposed
Calyste to be free of his late entanglement, and almost as good as
married to the little Charlotte. The young man alone kept silence. For
the first time in his life he had instituted comparisons between his
life-long friends and the two elegant women, witty, accomplished, and
tasteful, who, at the present moment, must be laughing heartily at
the provincial mother and daughter, judging by the look he intercepted
between them.

He was seeking in vain for some excuse to leave his family on this
occasion, and go up as usual to Les Touches, when Madame de Kergarouet
mentioned that she regretted not having accepted Mademoiselle des
Touches' offer of her carriage for the return journey to Saint-Nazaire,
which for the sake of her three other "dear kittens," she felt compelled
to make on the following day.

Fanny, who alone saw her son's uneasiness, and the little hold which
Charlotte's coquetries and her mother's attentions were gaining on him,
came to his aid.

"Madame," she said to the viscountess, "you will, I think, be very
uncomfortable in the carrier's vehicle, and especially at having to
start so early in the morning. You would certainly have done better to
take the offer made to you by Mademoiselle des Touches. But it is not
too late to do so now. Calyste, go up to Les Touches and arrange the
matter; but don't be long; return to us soon."

"It won't take m