? They went off together in a little
carriage; breakfast, books, and a butterfly-net accompanied them to the
forest; but he was bored to death. They bought a boat, but a tete-a-tete
in the middle of the Seine was worse than one on shore; and the little
boat soon lay moored at the landing, half full of water and dead leaves.

Then the poet took to building; he planned a new staircase and an
Italian terrace: but even this did not amuse him.

One day a man, who came to tune the pianoforte, extolled the merits of
an AEolian harp. D'Argenton immediately ordered one made on a gigantic
scale, and placed it on his roof. From that moment poor little Jack's
life was a burden to him. The melancholy wail of the instrument, like
a soul in purgatory, pursued him in his dreams. To the child's great
relief, the poet was equally disturbed, and the harp was ordered to
the end of the garden; but its shrieks and moans were still heard.
D'Argenton fiercely commanded that the instrument should be buried,
which was done, and the earth heaped upon it as over some mad animal.
All these various occupations failing to amuse her poet, Charlotte
reluctantly decided to invite some of his old friends, but was repaid
for her sacrifice by witnessing D'Argenton's joy on being told that Dr.
Hirsch and Labassandre were soon to visit them.

When Jack entered the house, a few days later, he heard the voices of
his old professors. The child felt an emotion of sick terror, for the
sounds recalled the memory of so many wretched hours. He slipped quietly
into the garden, there to await the dinner-bell.

"Come, gentlemen," said Charlotte, smilingly, as she appeared on the
terrace,--her large white apron indicating that au a good housekeeper
she by no means disdained on occasion to lay aside her lace ruffles and
take an active part.

The professors promptly obeyed this summons to dinner, and greeted Jack
as he took his seat with every appearance of cordiality. Two large doors
opened on the lawn, beyond which lay the forest.

"You are a lucky fellow," said Labassandre. "Tomorrow I shall be in that
hot, dusty town, eating a miserable dinner."

"It is a good thing to be certain of having even a miserable dinner,"
grumbled Dr. Hirsch.

"Why not remain here for a time?" said D'Argen-ton, cordially. "There is
a room for each of you; the cellar has some good wine in it--"

"And we can make excursions," interrupted Charlotte, gayly.

"But what would become of