328 A TOUE ROUND MY GARDEN. 



lost in hesitation, I fixed upon a plan : I purchased a bouquet 

 of yellow roses, and placed my billet in the middle of the 

 bouquet. 



" Stop — perhaps it is being very foolish, but I stiU remem- 

 ber the contents of it. After the avowal of my love, I sup- 

 plicated her to love me in return, to be happy with me, and 

 to wait for me three years. I entreated her, if she con- 

 sented, to wear in her bosom in the evening one of my yellow 

 roses. Then, said I, I shall have courage to speak to you, 

 and will tell you all you have to do to secure my happiness: 

 I dare not say our happiness." 



"What! did you put the billet in the bouquet?" said 

 Madame Lorgei'el. 



" Yes, Madame." 



"And then?" 



" And then, in the evening No6mi did not wear a yeUow 

 rose in her bosom. I was near killing myself. My uncle 

 dragged me away to Clermont, in spite of myself; he re- 

 mained with me two months, mingled with the young officers, 

 and finished by diverting my thoughts, and convincing me 

 that Nolmi had never loved me. 



" ' But, uncle,' said I, ' she always appeared so glad when 

 I arrived, and made such gentle reproaches when I came 

 late.' 



" ' Ah ! women love to have the love of all the world; but 

 there are persons whom they don't love.' 



" In short, in the end, I nearly forgot her; and then I 

 married the daughter of the colonel, whom I lost after a 

 union of eight years ; and here I am now, left quite alone. 

 My uncle has been dead a long while. Well, would you 

 believe that I still think frequently of No6mi ; and what is 

 most curious is, that she always presents herself before me as 

 a young girl of seventeen, with her beautiful brown hair, and, 

 as my uncle said, her black velvet eyes; whereas she must 

 now be, if living, quite an old woman." 



" You do not know what became of her 1" 



" No, Madame." 



" Well, but your name was not then Descoudraies ?" 



" No ; that is the name of my uncle's estate. My name 

 was Edmond d'Altheim." 



