w, pawing and tossing his head as the groom led him away.

"A little romance of mine," said Jacques, smiling; "I trust 'tis not
considered in bad taste--I had a crook----"

"A crook?"

"Yes, wreathed with flowers, as was the custom, I believe, in Arcadia;
but I feared it would attract attention in the town, and I left it,"
said Jacques, with lamblike innocence.

This sally was greeted with tumultuous applause.

"A crook!" cried the damsels.

"An excellent idea!"

"So sylvan!"

"And so appropriate!"

"We may have as many as we fancy, I believe," said Jacques, smiling;
"I have prepared a number as an introduction to the festival: they are
in the garden, ladies, already wreathed with flowers!"

The company rose in a mass to go and get them, and soon they were in
the garden; then scattered over the lawn; then every where, laughing,
making merry, and behaving like a crowd of children released from
school. The damsels acted shepherdesses to perfection, and closely
resembled the pictures we are accustomed to see upon the fans which
ladies use even to the present day. Their little airs of sylvan
simplicity were very pretty; and the gallant gentlemen were not
backward in their part. They bowed and simpered until they resembled
so many supple-jacks, pulled by the finger of a child.

"Look," said Jacques to Belle-bouche, and sighing slightly as he gazed
upon the fresh beauty of her face; "see those lovers yonder----"

"Lovers?" said Belle-bouche, smiling.

"I am not mistaken, I think," said Jacques; "yes, yes, my queen, they
are lovers. Do you not think that something like that which I spoke of
formerly will come to pass?"

Belle-bouche, with a delicious little rose-color brightening her
cheek, replied, patting her satin-sandalled foot upon the flowery
sward:

"Which you spoke of--pray, what did you speak of?"

"Of my wish to be a shepherd----"

"Ah--a shepherd," said Belle-bouche, removing a cherry blossom from
her hair, and smiling.

"Yes, my lovely queen," said Jacques, with great readiness; "I wished
to be a shepherd and have a crook----"

"Oh, sir!"

"And that my Arcadian love should also have one and draw me--so that
passing through the fields----"

"Oh, yes----"

"I might kiss her hand----"

"Yes, yes----"

"And passing through the forests wrap her in my cloak----"

Belle-bouche laughed.

"And crossing the streams on narrow moss-clad logs, support her with
my arm--as the dearest and most