ages of
arms that continually took place between them, Jacqueline was bitterly
conscious that she no longer had the best of it as formerly. She was no
longer as droll and lively as she had been. She was easily disconcerted,
and took everything 'au serieux', and her wits became paralyzed by an
embarrassment that was new to her. And, pained by the sort of sarcasm
which Marien kept up in all their intercourse, she was often ready to
burst into tears after talking to him. Yet she was never quite satisfied
unless he was present. She counted the days from one Wednesday to
another, for on Wednesdays he always dined with them, and she greeted
any opportunity of seeing him on other days as a great pleasure. This
week, for example, would be marked with a white stone. She would have
seen him twice. For half an hour Marien had been enduring the bore of
the reception, standing silent and self-absorbed in the midst of the gay
talk, which did not interest him. He wished to escape, but was always
kept from doing so by some word or sign from Madame de Nailles.
Jacqueline had been thinking: "Oh! if he would only come and talk to
us!" He was now drawing near them, and an instinct made her wish to rush
up to him and tell him--what should she tell him? She did not know. A
few moments before so many things to tell him had been passing through
her brain.

What she said was: "Monsieur Marien, I recommend to you these little
spiced cakes." And, with some awkwardness, because her hand was
trembling, she held out the plate to him.

"No, thank you, Mademoiselle," he said, affecting a tone of great
ceremony, "I prefer to take this glass of punch, if you will permit me."

"The punch is cold, I fear; suppose we were to put a little tea in it.
Stay--let me help you."

"A thousand thanks; but I like to attend to such little cookeries
myself. By the way, it seems to me that Mademoiselle Giselle, in her
character of an angel who disapproves of the good things of this life,
has not left us much to eat at your table."

"Who--I?" cried the poor schoolgirl, in a tone of injured innocence and
astonishment.

"Don't pay any attention to him," said Jacqueline, as if taking her
under her protection. "He is nothing but a tease; what he says is only
chaff. But I might as well talk Greek to her," she added, shrugging her
shoulders. "In the convent they don't know what to make of a joke. Only
spare her at least, if you please, Monsieur Marien."

"I know by r