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"Foolish man!" said Carabine, at a nod from Madame Nourrisson, "don't you see that poor child Cydalise a girl of sixteen, who has been pining for you these three months, till she has lost her appetite for food or drink, and who is heart-broken because you have never even glanced at her?"

He did not fail to write his weekly letter to Cydalise; but, for some reason or other, he refrained from any allusion to the English stranger, although it was his custom to relate all his adventures for the amusement of the family at Beaubocage. An evening came at last on which Madame Meynell was persuaded to remain with the other ladies after dinner.

In all relations as grandson, husband, father, master he had been "all simply perfect," as Mademoiselle Cydalise pronounced him; and in a mind occupied by cares for the welfare and happiness of others, he had never found that blank which needed to be filled in order to make his own life completely happy.

Cydalise put her handkerchief to her eyes with an appearance of emotion "She is furious," Carabine went on, "though she looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth, furious to see the man she adores duped by a villainous hussy; she would kill Valerie " "Oh, as for that," said the Brazilian, "that is my business!" "What, killing?" said old Nourrisson.

O heaven, then, her shoulders! it ought to be forbidden to wear low dresses when one has such shoulders." This was discouraging, but the schemers bore up even against this. The mother dwelt on the intellectual virtues of Madelon; and what were shoulders compared to mind, piety, amiability all the Christian graces? Cydalise owned that dear Madelon was somewhat gauche; Gustave called her bete.

"We get a glimpse of a handsome woman sometimes, rattling past in her carriage; but in Paris handsome women do not go on foot. I have seen prettier girls at Vevinord than in Paris." Cydalise was enchanted with this confession. "Yes," she exclaimed, "our Normandy is the place for pretty girls. Madelon Frehlter. for example, is not she a very amiable girl?"

"A man does not make such a voyage for nothing," remarked Madame Nourrisson. "You have a right to look for love for your own sake, particularly being so good-looking. Oh, he is very handsome!" said she to Carabine. "Very handsome, handsomer than the Postillon de Longjumeau," replied the courtesan. Cydalise took the Brazilian's hand, but he released it as politely as he could.

"I dare say she's amiable enough," answered Gustave; "but if there were no prettier girls than Mademoiselle Frehlter in this part of the world, we should have no cause to boast. But there are prettier girls, Cydalise, and thou art thyself one of them." After this speech the young man bestowed upon his sister a resounding kiss. Yes; it was clear that he was heart-whole.

Do you see?" said Madame Nourrisson, finding the Brazilian quite amazed by so subtle a scheme. "All right, old ostrich," he replied. "Come along: I understand." "Good-bye, little one!" said the old woman to Carabine. She signed to Cydalise to go on with Montes, and remained a minute with Carabine. "Now, child, I have but one fear, and that is that he will strangle her!

The lines of that unblemished face were the ideal of angelic purity. Her milk-white skin reflected the light like a mirror. The delicate pink in her cheeks might have been laid on with a brush. She was called Cydalise, and, as will be seen, she was an important pawn in the game played by Ma'ame Nourrisson to defeat Madame Marneffe.