"He sends flowers to her as he does to me--only he sends me a bouquet, while for her he despoils the gardens of Sairmeuse." "What are you saying about flowers ?" inquired the impoverished relative.
Mlle.

Blanche replied that she had not made the slightest allusion to flowers.

She was suffocating--and yet she compelled herself to remain there three mortal hours--all the time that was required to unload the furniture.
The wagons had been gone some time, when Martial again appeared upon the threshold.
Marie-Anne had accompanied him to the door, and they were talking together.

It seemed impossible for him to make up his mind to depart.
He did so, at last, however; but he left slowly and with evident reluctance.

Marie-Anne, remaining in the door, gave him a friendly gesture of farewell.
"I wish to speak to this creature!" exclaimed Mlle.Blanche.