us-Prefet_,
And a bow for Ma'am'selle Anne;
And a mock "off-hat" to the Notary's cat,
And a nod to the Sacristan:--

For ever through life the Cure goes
With a smile on his kind old face--
With his coat worn bare, and his straggling hair.
And his green umbrella-case.

"GOOD-NIGHT, BABETTE"

"Si vieillesse pouvait!"

SCENE.--_A small neat room. In a high Voltaire chair sits a
white-haired old gentleman._

M. VIEUXBOIS [_turning querulously_]

Day of my life! Where _can_ she get?
BABETTE! I Say! BABETTE!--BABETTE!

BABETTE [_entering hurriedly_]

Coming, M'sieu'! If M'sieu' speaks
So loud, he won't be well for weeks!

M. VIEUXBOIS

Where have you been?

BABETTE

Why, M'sieu' knows:--
April!... Ville-d' Avray!... Ma'm'selle ROSE!

M. VIEUXBOIS

Ah! I am old,--and I forget.
Was the place growing green, BABETTE?

BABETTE

But of a greenness!--Yes, M'sieu'!
And then the sky so blue!--so blue!
And when I dropped my _immortelle_,
How the birds sang!
[_Lifting her apron to her eyes._]
This poor Ma'm'selle!

M. VIEUXBOIS

You're a good girl, BABETTE, but she,--
She was an angel, verily.
Sometimes I think I see her yet
Stand smiling by the cabinet;
And once, I know, she peeped and laughed
Betwixt the curtains....
Where's the draught?
[_She gives him a cup._]
Now I shall sleep, I think, BABETTE;--
Sing me your Norman _chansonnette_.

BABETTE [_sings_]

"_Once at the Angelus
(Ere I was dead),
Angels all glorious
Came to my bed;--
Angels in blue and white,
Crowned on the head._"

M. VIEUXBOIS [_drowsily_]

"She was an Angel" ... "Once she laughed" ...
What! was I dreaming?
Where's the draught?

BABETTE [_showing the empty cup_]

The draught, M'sieu'?

M. VIEUXBOIS

How I forget!
I am so old! But sing, BABETTE!

BABETTE [_sings_]

"_One was the Friend I left
Stark in the Snow;
One was the Wife that died
Long,--long ago;
One was the Love I lost--
How could she know?_"

M. VIEUXBOIS [_murmuring_]

Ah PAUL! ... old PAUL! ... EULALIE, too!
And ROSE ... And O! "the sky so blue!"

BABETTE [_sings_]

"_One had my Mother's ey