l cut you another from the ash grove below. But you loved this
crook," he added--"the gift, perhaps, of some shepherd--some shepherd?
--no, some prince; for you yourselves are princesses--or fairies."

"We are nothing but simple shepherdesses," said Amaranthe.

"You are nothing but beautiful young ladies from the capital," said
Hector, "on a visit at the Chateau d'Urtis. Heaven be praised--for in
my walks I shall at least catch glimpses of you at a distance, if I
dare not come near. I shall see you glinting among the trees like
enchantresses of old."

"Yes, we are Parisians, as you have guessed--but retired for ever
from the world and its deceitful joys."

Amaranthe had uttered the last words in a declamatory tone; you
might have thought them a quotation from her mamma.

"You complain rather early, methinks," replied Hector, with a smile;
"have you indeed much fault to find with the world?"

"That is our secret, fair sportsman," answered Amaranthe; "but it
seems you also live retired--an eremite forlorn."

"I? fair Amaranthe? I have done nothing but dream of the delights of
a shepherd's life--though I confess I had given up all hopes of
seeing a good-looking shepherdess--but now I shall go back more
happily than ever to my day-dreams. Ah! why can't I help you to
guard your flock?"

The two young girls did not know what to say to this proposition.
Daphne at last replied--

"Our flock is very small--and quite ill enough attended to as it is."

"What joy for me to become Daphnis--to sing to you, and gather roses,
and twine them in your hair!"

"Let us say no more," interrupted Amaranthe, a little disquieted at
the sudden ardour of Daphnis; "the sun is going down: we must return
to the park. Adieu," she added, rising to go away.

"Adieu, Daphnis!" murmured the tender Daphne, confused and blushing.

Hector did not dare to follow them. He stood for a quarter of an
hour with his eyes fixed first on them, and then on the door of the
park. His heart beat violently, his whole soul pursued the steps of
the shepherdesses.

"'Adieu, Daphnis,' the lovely Daphne said to me. I hear her sweet
voice still! How beautiful she is! how beautiful they are,
both--Amaranthe is more graceful, but Daphne is more winning--bright
eyes--white hands! sweet smiles! and the delicious dress, so simple,
yet so captivating! the white corset that I could not venture to
look at--the gown of silk that couldn't hide the points of the
charmin