326 A TOOR ROUND MY GARDEN. 



" ' Well then, uncle, I know what remains for me to do.' 



" ' Nonsense ! let us see : don't commit any foUy ; at least 

 listen to me.' 



" ' Yes, uncle.' 



" ' Well, in the first place, you cannot marry at twenty.' 



«' Why not, uncle r 



" ' Because I won't let you; and without me this marriage 

 will never take place.' 



" ' Oh, my dear, good httle uncle ! ' 



" ' If the girl loves you — if she promises to wait three years 

 for you ' 



" ' Three years, uncle !' 



" ' Don't begin to argue about it, or I shall insist upon 

 four. If she will promise to wait three years for you, you will 

 join your regiment.' 



" ' Ah, uncle ! — uncle !' 



" ' But not at Clermont ; I will contrive to have you placed 

 in a regiment at a few leagues from Paris, whither you can 

 come once in every three months.' 



" ' Well, uncle ; but how am I to know if she loves me V 



" ' How are you to know ! Why by asking her, to be sure. 

 " ' Dear uncle, I dare not.' 



" ' Then pack up your kit, and obey your father.' 

 " ' But, dear uncle, you don't know what sort of a girl she 

 is. I have wished a hundred times to tell her I loved her ; I 

 have been ashamed of my own timidity ; I have endeavoured 

 to obtain courage in all ways; I have prepared speeches, and 

 learnt them by heart ; I have written letters : but when an 

 opportunity offered for speaking to her, I felt the first word 

 choke me, and I spoke of something else. Her look is so 

 mild, but at the same time so severe, it appeared to me that 

 she could never love a man ; and then I spoke of something 

 else. As for letters, it is still worse : at the moment I should 

 give them, I fancy them so silly, that I cannot believe I can 

 tear them into pieces small enough.' 



" ' Well, but, my boy, the matter must be decided ; and I 

 will tell you why : your father has not let you into the whole 

 afiair. One of his reasons for sending you to Clermont is, 

 that the colonel of the regiment is one of his most intimate 

 friends, and has a daughter: this daughter is destined for 



