394 THE WIDOWED WIFE. 



" There is Baptiste. For heaven's sake let me go another way. I 

 would rather die than meet him now." 



" Stuff and nonsense. Indeed you shall not go another way. 

 Now just hold up your head and don't let him see you've been 

 crying, or let him think you care a pin's point for him. Pretend to 

 pick that daisy behind you, and wipe your eyes, girl. It is so foolish 

 and mind hush here he comes. Well, uncle uncle that is to be, 

 I mean, how do you do ? You don't look over well. Hold your 

 head higher, child." This was said, as the play-books have it, 

 " aside." 



"How are you this morning, Lily?" said Baptiste Claremont, 

 advancing with his extended hand towards her as he spoke, without 

 appearing to notice her sister, " What, won't you shake hands with 

 me?" 



" Oh, you won't speak to me, won't you ?" said the slighted An- 

 toinette " Very well, sir I wish you a very good morning I shall 

 go and seek some one who will answer when I speak to them, for I 

 hate to have all the conversation to myself." " Antoinette," exclaimed 

 Lily, endeavouring to detain her " sister " 



" Indeed, Lily, I must go. You know I shall get a horrid scolding 

 as it is for my aunt has been waiting for me this half-hour to help 

 her to dress so good bye. Good morning, dear uncle," and away 

 bounded the beautiful girl towards the house. 



" Lily, Lily, will you not even speak to me ?" said Baptiste. 

 " Pray do not turn away," he continued, at the same time gently de- 

 taining her as she was preparing to follow her sister. " Is this kind 

 or even just?" But leaving for a while his question unanswered, 

 we will follow Antoinette into the dressing-room of her aunt (on the 

 second-floor back, of the aforesaid inn,) who was standing before a no 

 mean-sized looking glass, complacently contemplating her figure and 

 effect. Although Madame Delcourt had arrived at what ladies term" a 

 certain age" and which they interpret as the " shady side of forty: 

 still there was in her manner that peculiarly French light- heartedness, 

 which made her appear a good ten years younger than she really was 

 and indeed her dress on this, the morning of her intended second 

 marriage, in no wise served to diminish her good looks. A rich, and 

 apparently quite new, white satin petticoat, trimmed with lace, and 

 fitting closely to her well made figure, was short enough to leave 

 exposed to view an extremely small foot and well turned ancle 

 while a boddice, trimmed at all points with .lace, although, perhaps, 

 if too strictly scrutinized, might be deemed as cut somewhat low, still 

 seemed so studiously arranged, as only to leave exposed a finely 

 curved throat. On her head was placed a fillet of real and choice 

 flowers which she was carefully arranging at the time of Antoinette's 

 entrance, whom she greeted with a " How is this pray ?" and turning 

 sharply round as she spoke, continued, " Why were you not here an 

 hour ago ? How is it I say ?" 



" I'm sure, aunt, I don't know." 



" Don't know ! the same excuse, hey ? that eternal ' don't know, 

 I'm sure ;' come fasten me this band behind." 



" Yes, dear aunt there" she continued, as she completed the 





