papa could have married any
time if he could promise to stay always there, in France. But the
business couldn't assure that; and so, for years and years, you see?"

"Yes, I see."

"But then, all at once, almost in a day, mamma, she found herself an
orphan, with no inheritance but poor relations and they with already
too many orphans in their care. For, as my aunts say, joking, that
seems to run in our family, to become orphans.

"They are very fond of joking, my aunts. And so, because to those
French relations America seemed a cure for all troubles, they allowed
papa to marry mamma and bring her here to live, where I was born, and
where they lived many, many years so happily, because so bravely----"

"And in such refinement--of spirit?"

"Ah, yes, yes. And where we are yet inhabiting, as you perceive, my
aunts and me, and--as you see yonder this moment waiting us in the
gate--Hector and Marie Madeleine!"

Alone with the De l'Isles in Royal Street Chester asked, "And the
business--Chapdelaine & Son?"

"Ah, sinz' long time liquidate'! All tha'z rim-aining is Mme.
Alexandre. Mr. Chezter, y' ought to put that! That ought to go in the
book," said monsieur.

"If we could only avoid a disjointed effect."

"Dizjoin'--my dear sir! They are going to read thad book _biccause_
the dizjointed--by curio-zity. You'll see! That Am-erican pewblic
they have a passion, an _insanitie_, for the dizjointed!"

XXVI

The week so blissfully begun in the Chapdelaines' garden and at Spanish
Fort was near its end.

The _Courier des Etats-Unis_ had told the Royal Street coterie of
mighty doings far away in Italy, of misdoings in Galicia, and of
horrors on the Atlantic fouler than all its deeps can ever cleanse; but
nothing was yet reported to have "tranzpired" in the _vieux carre_.
The fortunes of "the book" seemed becalmed.

It was Saturday evening. The streets had just been lighted. Mlles.
Corinne and Yvonne, dingy even by starlight, were in one of
them--Conti. Now they turned into Royal, and after them turned Chester
and Aline. Presently the four entered the parlor of the Castanados.
Their coming made its group eleven, and all being seated Castanado rose.

After the proper compliments--"They were called," he said, "to
receive----"

"And discuss," Chester put in.

"To receive and discuss the judgment of their----"

"The suggestions," Chester amended.

"The judgment and suggestion' of their counsel, h