to and fro over his yellow collar as though it
were the head of some Chinese idol. His laughter ran all over him, and
he was almost bursting inside his tunic, which he did not unbutton,
however, out of respect for madame.

"This is far better than old Rouvet's radishes!" he exclaimed at last,
with his mouth full.

This was a reminiscence of their country home; and at thought of it
they both burst into immoderate laughter. Rosalie even had to hold on
to the table to prevent herself from falling. One day, before their
first communion, it seemed, Zephyrin had filched three black radishes
from old Rouvet. They were very tough radishes indeed--tough enough to
break one's teeth; but Rosalie all the same had crunched her share of
the spoil at the back of the schoolhouse. Hence it was that every time
they chanced to be taking a meal together Zephyrin never omitted to
ejaculate: "Yes; this is better than old Rouvet's radishes!"

And then Rosalie's laughter would become so violent that nine times
out of ten her petticoat-string would give way with an audible crack.

"Hello! has it parted?" asked the little soldier, with triumph in his
tone.

But Rosalie responded with a good slap.

"It's disgusting to make me break the string like this!" said she. "I
put a fresh one on every week."

However, he came nearer to her, intent on some joke or other, by way
of revenging the blow; but with a furious glance she reminded him that
her mistress was looking on. This seemed to trouble him but little,
for he replied with a rakish wink, as much as to say that no woman,
not even a lady, disliked a little fun. To be sure, when folks are
sweethearting, other people always like to be looking on.

"You have still five years to serve, haven't you?" asked Helene,
leaning back on the high wooden-seated chair, and yielding to a
feeling of tenderness.

"Yes, madame; perhaps only four if they don't need me any longer."

It occurred to Rosalie that her mistress was thinking of her marriage,
and with assumed anger, she broke in:

"Oh! madame, he can stick in the army for another ten years if he
likes! I sha'n't trouble myself to ask the Government for him. He is
becoming too much of a rake; yes, I believe he's going to the dogs.
Oh! it's useless for you to laugh--that won't take with me. When we go
before the mayor to get married, we'll see on whose side the laugh
is!"

At this he chuckled all the more, in order that he might show himself
a l