I was not offended, I knew she was only joking, my character stood far above any imputation; but still, there are subjects on which jokes are better avoided, and there _was_ a cousin of mine whose honesty, I am sorry to say, had been more than once suspected; altogether, I hardly thought the remark in good taste, and Mademoiselle Eliane was not slow to perceive it.
"'Poor old Dudu,' she cried; 'have I hurt your feelings?
But tell me what are you looking so solemn about ?' "I looked at her again, and then, sure that she and her sister were both watching me with attention, I sprang up the side of the wall next the little stranger's house, hopped over the balcony railings, and finding, as I expected, my little friend crouched down in the corner, I gave a loud, sharp croak, as if something were the matter.

Charlotte started up in a fright, and the young ladies, watching me curiously, for the first time observed her little figure.
"'Why, Dudu has a friend up there!' exclaimed Mademoiselle Jeanne--your great-grandmother, my dears.

'Mademoiselle,' she called out to the little girl, whose small black figure did not look very much bigger than mine as we stood up there side by side; 'Mademoiselle, do not be frightened of our old raven.

He will not hurt you.' "'I am not frightened, thank you,' said the little girl's gentle voice.
'He has been to see me before.

I was only startled when he made that funny noise.