xtremely unpleasant situation?
One upper garment still remained to me--an old, thick, heavy, winter
mantle. The idea occurred to me that I might utilize this to conceal my
too gorgeous plumage. We were now in the month of June, and the weather
was tropical. No matter! In class and playground, I appeared buttoned up
in my big cloak, bathed in perspiration, but happy in having hidden my
shame.

To Mademoiselle Ermance's expression of surprise, I answered that I had
a cold. I did not deviate widely from the truth. Two days later, thanks
to this over-heating, I had a very real one.

The device did not serve me long. My parents found me out, and promptly
deprived me of my protecting shell, thus obliging me to attend school
again in the costume of a canary. The former annoyances re-commenced.

Vacation time was at hand, and Georgette, of whom I was more enamoured
than ever, remained still cold and indifferent.

One day we were playing the game of brigands and gendarmes. I was one of
the gendarmes, who were invariably beaten.

_Met-a-Mort_ had nominated himself captain of the brigands, and chose
Georgette for his _vivandiere_.

Presently, for a few minutes there was a suspension of hostilities.
Brigands and gendarmes fraternized, as they quenched their thirst, and
expatiated upon the joys of the fray. Suddenly Georgette, with her
accustomed vivacity, broke in upon our little group. She bore in her
hands a glass ink-bottle.

"See!" said her sweet voice. "Whoever will drink this ink shall,
by-and-by, be my little husband!"

_Met-a-Mort_ and the rest exploded with laughter.

When we resumed our game, I discovered that I had lost all interest in
it. Georgette's words haunted me.

Cries of joy arose from our camp. The enemy's _vivandiere_ had been
captured. I was told off to guard the prisoner; you may guess whether I
was happy!

Georgette tried bribery.

"Oh! let me go! let me go! and I will give you ten pens."

Much I cared for her pens!

"Did you mean what you said just now, mademoiselle?" I timidly inquired.

"What?"

"That whoever would drink the ink should be your little husband?"

"Yes, stupid! But let me go--"

"Then it is true?"

"Of course it is. Let me go!"

She was growing impatient. For a moment I hesitated; then I said:--

"Run away quickly! nobody can see us."

She did not need telling twice. As swiftly as her feet could carry her,
she ran off to the enemy's camp.

[Illustration: "SHE W