yor, and these his old friends believed every word he said, and
readily promised their services and strict secrecy.

He told the young ladies what he had done.

Rose approved. Josephine shook her head, and seeing matters going as
her heart desired and her conscience did not quite approve, she suddenly
affected to be next to nobody in the business--to be resigned, passive,
and disposed of to her surprise by Queen Rose and King Camille, without
herself taking any actual part in their proceedings.

At last the great day arrived on which Camille and Josephine were to be
married at Frejus.

The mayor awaited them at eleven o'clock. The cure at twelve. The family
had been duly prepared for this excursion by several smaller ones.

Rose announced their intention over night; a part of it.

"Mamma," said she, blushing a little, "Colonel Dujardin is good enough
to take us to Frejus tomorrow. It is a long way, and we must breakfast
early or we shall not be back to dinner."

"Do so, my child. I hope you will have a fine day: and mind you take
plenty of wraps with you in case of a shower."

At seven o'clock the next morning Camille and the two ladies took a
hasty cup of coffee together instead of breakfast, and then Dard brought
the caleche round.

The ladies got in, and Camille had just taken the reins in his hand,
when Jacintha screamed to him from the hall, "Wait a moment, colonel,
wait a moment! The doctor! don't go without the doctor!" And the next
moment Dr. Aubertin appeared with his cloak on his arm, and, saluting
the ladies politely, seated himself quietly in the vehicle before the
party had recovered their surprise.

The ladies managed to keep their countenances, but Dujardin's
discomfiture was evident.

He looked piteously at Josephine, and then asked Aubertin if they were
to set him down anywhere in particular.

"Oh, no; I am going with you to Frejus," was the quiet reply.

Josephine quaked. Camille was devoured with secret rage: he lashed the
horse and away they went.

It was a silent party. The doctor seemed in a reverie. The others did
not know what to think, much less to say. Aubertin sat by Camille's
side; so the latter could hold no secret communication with either lady.

Now it was not the doctor's habit to rise at this time of the morning:
yet there he was, going with them to Frejus uninvited.

Josephine was in agony; had their intention transpired through some
imprudence of Camille?

Camille