It seemed as if the romantic visions my imagination had suggested of this garden, while it was yet hidden from me by the jealous boards, were more than realized; and, when a turn in the alley shut out the view of the house, and some tall shrubs excluded M.Pelet's mansion, and screened us momentarily from the other houses, rising amphitheatre-like round this green spot, I gave my arm to Mdlle.

Reuter, and led her to a garden-chair, nestled under some lilacs near.

She sat down; I took my place at her side.

She went on talking to me with that ease which communicates ease, and, as I listened, a revelation dawned in my mind that I was on the brink of falling in love.

The dinner-bell rang, both at her house and M.Pelet's; we were obliged to part; I detained her a moment as she was moving away.
"I want something," said I.
"What ?" asked Zoraide naively.
"Only a flower." "Gather it then--or two, or twenty, if you like." "No--one will do-but you must gather it, and give it to me." "What a caprice!" she exclaimed, but she raised herself on her tip-toes, and, plucking a beautiful branch of lilac, offered it to me with grace.
I took it, and went away, satisfied for the present, and hopeful for the future.
Certainly that May day was a lovely one, and it closed in moonlight night of summer warmth and serenity.