asily have been, had she so chosen.
Yonder was Sosthene hoeing leisurely in the little garden, and
possibly the sunbonnet of _la vieille_ half seen and half hidden among
her lima-beans; but for the rest there was only the house, silent at
best, or, worse, sending out through its half-open door the long,
scornful No-o-o! of the maiden's unseen spinning-wheel. No matter the
fame or grace of the rider. All in vain, my lad: pirouette as you
will; sit your gallantest; let your hat blow off, and turn back, and
at full speed lean down from the saddle, and snatch it airily from the
ground, and turn again and gallop away; all is in vain. For by her
estimate either you are living in fear of the conscript officer; or,
if you are in the service, and here only transiently on leave of
absence, your stay seems long, and it is rumored your leave has
expired; or, worse, you cannot read; or, worst, your age, for all your
manly airs, is so near Zosephine's as to give your attentions strong
savor of presumption. But let any fortune bring Bonaventure in any
guise--sorriest horseman of all, youngest, slenderest, and stranger to
all the ways that youth loves--and at once she is visible; nay, more,
accessible; and he, welcome. So accessible she, so welcome he, that
more than once she has to waft aside her mother's criticisms by
pleading Bonaventure's foster-brotherhood and her one or two superior
years.

"Poor 'Thanase!" said the youths and maidens.

* * * * *

And now the war came to an end. Bonaventure was glad. 'Thanase was
expected home, but--let him come. If the absent soldier knew what the
young folks at the balls knew, he would not make haste in his return.
And he did not, as it seemed. Day after day, in group after group,
without shouting and without banners, with wounds and scars and
tattered garments, some on horses, but many more on foot, the loved
ones--the spared ones, remnants of this command and that command and
'Thanase's command--came home. But day by day brought no 'Thanase.

Bonaventure began to wish for him anxiously. He wanted him back so
that this load might be lifted. Thus the bitter would pass out of the
sweet; the haunting fear of evil tidings from the absent rival would
haunt no more. Life would be what it was to other lads, and Zosephine
one day fall to his share by a better title than he could ever make
with 'Thanase in exile. Come, 'Thanase, come, come!

More weeks passed. The y