aradox! looking more like a woman than ever.

During those three days while the fairy tailors were at work our
friendship had not been idle. Indeed, some part of each day we had
spent diligently learning each other, as travellers to distant lands
across the Channel work hard at phrase-book and Baedeker the week
before their departure. Meanwhile too I had made the acquaintance of
the charming lady Obstacle,--as it proved so unfair to call her,--and
by some process of natural magnetism we had immediately won each
other's hearts, so that on the moonlight night on which I took the
river path with my brown-paper parcel there was no misgiving in my
heart,--nothing but harping and singing, and blessings on the river
that seemed all silver with the backs of magic trout. As I thought of
all I owed that noble fish, I kneeled by the river's bearded lip, among
the nettles and the meadowsweet, and swore by the inconstant moon that
trout and I were henceforth kinsmen, and that between our houses should
be an eternal amity. The chub and the dace and the carp, not to speak
of that Chinese pirate the pike, might still look to it, when I came
forth armed with rod and line; but for me and my house the trout is
henceforth sacred. By the memory of the Blessed Saint Izaak, I swore it!

My arrival at Beaucaire was one of great excitement. Nicolete and the
Obstacle were both awaiting me, for the mysteries of masculine attire
were not to be explored alone. The parcel was snatched quite
unceremoniously from my hands, the door shut upon me, and I laughingly
bidden go listen to the nightingale. I was not long in finding one,
nor, being an industrious phrase-maker, did I waste my time, for,
before I was summoned to behold Nicolete in all her boyhood, I had
found occasion and moonlight to remark to my pocket-book that, Though
all the world has heard the song of the Nightingale to the Rose, only
the Nightingale has heard the answer of the Rose. This I hurriedly hid
in my heart for future conversation, as the pre-arranged tinkle of the
silver bell called me to the rose.

Would, indeed, that I were a nightingale to sing aright the beauty of
that rose with which, think of it, I was to spend a whole
fortnight,--yes, no less than fourteen wonderful days.

The two girls were evidently proud of themselves at having succeeded so
well with the mysterious garments. There were one or two points on
which they needed my guidance, but they were unimporta