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"Very well; I warn you that I intend to push the siege; take care of your interests." "I'm not afraid." "I am going to see Belle-bouche again to-morrow. "Faith, I'll be there, then." "Good; war is opened then the glove thrown?" "War to the death! Good-by, publican!" "Farewell, sinner!" And with these words the melancholy Jacques departed.
Belle-bouche all this time has been endeavoring to produce the impression that she is looking over a book of engravings being interested in Heidelberg, and fascinated with the Alhambra. From time to time her timid glance steals toward Jacques, who is sighing, or toward Sir Asinus, who is laughing. Sir Asinus glories in his revenge.
In a word, our friend Sir Asinus had coveted a cool morning at pleasant Shadynook, in company with Belle-bouche or a novel; and this had spurred him to such extraordinary haste, not to mention the early rising.
And ending, Belle-bouche handed the book, with a merry little glance, to Jacques, who sighed profoundly. "Yes, yes!" he murmured, "I believe you are right true, it is about a very unfortunate shepherd all lovers are unfortunate. These seem to be pretty songs very pretty." And he disconsolately turned over the leaves; then stopped and began reading.
"Becca! will you never hear me?" cried the voice of Aunt Wimple; "here I am toiling after you till I am out of breath for Heaven's sake, stop!" And smiling, red in the face, panting Aunt Wimple drew near and bowed pleasantly to Jacques, who only groaned, and murmured: "One more chance gone ah!" As for Belle-bouche, she was blushing like a rose.
"Here is one more cheerful," he said; "suppose I read it, my dear Miss Belle-bouche." And he read: "'Twas when the sun had left the west, And starnies twinkled clearie, O, I hied to her I lo'e the best, My blithesome, winsome dearie, O. "Her cherry lip, her e'e sae blue, Her dimplin' cheek sae bonnie, O, An' 'boon them a' her heart sae true, Hae won me mair than ony, O."
"Rusticating you call it, I think," says Belle-bouche, smiling languidly, and raising her brow to catch the faint May breeze which moves her curls. "Yes; rusticating is the very word derived from rus, a Latin word signifying main street, and tike, a Greek word meaning to live in bachelor freedom. It applies to me exactly, you see.
At all events, Belle-bouche played with her lace cuff, and her countenance wore nothing more than its habitual faint smile. Jacques heaved a sigh, and said he believed he ought to go. The Doctor rose, and pressing Belle-bouche's hand, kindly took his leave followed by Jacques, who cast a last longing, lingering look behind. As for Sir Asinus, we regret to speak of him.
Belle-bouche receives the tender compliments of Jacques with a flitting blush, and says, in order to divert him from the subject of herself: "There is Mr. Mowbray, entering with his sister Lucy. She is very sweet " "But not " "And must be at our May-day," adds Belle-bouche, quickly. "Good evening, Mr. Mowbray and Miss Lucy; I wanted to see you."
Philippa is a cousin of Belle-bouche; and Belle-bouche is the niece of Aunt Wimple, who is mistress of the Shadynook domain. Philippa has guardians, but it cannot be said they direct her movements. They have given up that task in despair, some years since, and only hope that from the numerous cormorants always hovering around her, she may select one not wholly insatiable with some craw of mercy.
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