Belle-Rose — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ay © - Pfam ral - / 4 it! my de Me (ie: fi ys - fe « THE FIRST TEARS. 19 tell you how; but I have understood it from several things which I cannot explain to you, because I do not know by what end to take them. In the first place, you do not speak to her as to the other girls you know; and then you have eyes as sweet as honey when you look at her; you - make wide circuits to avoid her, and nevertheless you al- ways méet her, or—well, you seek her everywhere, and - when you do not find her, you stop short, and one would say that you desired to conceal yourself. In short, I neither know why nor how, but you love her.”’ *Ttis true, ’* murmured Jacques; ‘‘it is true, [love her.”’ His voice, as he pronounced these words so sweet to his heart, had something grave and sad about it which touched Claudine. ‘“Well,’’ said she, slipping her pretty arms around her brother’s neck, * ‘do not go and afflict yourself now? Is it such a painful thing to love people that it is necessary to assume that unhappy air. See, you are going to make me weep.’ Then poor Claudine dried the corners of her eyes with her apron; then smiling with the nobility of childhood, she raised herself upon her tiptoes, and placing her mouth to Jacques’ ear, she continued: “Bah! if IT were youl should rejoice. Suzanne is not your sister. Iam sure that she loves youas much as you love her. You shall marry her.’’ Jacques kissed Claudine upon both cheeks. **You are a kind sister,’’ he said to her; ‘‘go, now, I know what honesty requires of me.’’ And Jacques, disengaging himself from his sister’s em- brace, left the garden. He was going straight to the chateau, when he encountered Monsieur de Malzonvyilliers. “I was seeking you, monsieur,”’ he said to him, as he saluted him. “Me? And what have you to say to me, my boy?” ““T have to speak to you of an important affair. © ‘Really? Well, speak; I am lstening to you.’ *‘Monsieur, I am to- day eighteen years and some months old,’’ said Jacques, with the grave air of an ambassador. ‘‘l am an honest fellow who has strong arms and a little . education; I shall have one day two or three thousand a P ie "" — er ne . livres from an uncle who isa curé in Picardy; as to that which might come to me on my father’s side, I have de- cided to leave it to Claudine. In this state, I come to ask you if you will consent to give me your daughter in mar- riage. © Comichbooks co