Evening.—­Such a day!  After I had heard mumbling talking for quite a while—­the windows were all open, and the salon is under me—­suddenly the piano began.  Victorine plays really well generally—­that is, she has brilliant execution—­but you should have heard the jumble! hardly a note right, and in the middle of it up rushed Heloise to me and sank into a chair.  It was going as badly as it possibly could, she said.  Victorine was so nervous that her voice was like a file, and her face so crimson that the Marquis must think she has erysipelas!  And then, to complete matters, when she is told by Godmamma to show her accomplishments, to think that she should play like this!  Especially as the Marquis is very musical!  Heloise said she could see he was quite “degoute,” and the only thing for it now, was for me to change my frock instantly, and to put on a becoming one, and to go down and talk.  Then he would go away having enjoyed his visit, he won’t reason why, and will come again; and then when I am gone, he can be pushed into the marriage with Victorine!

She rang for Agnes while she spoke, and I was simply pitched into the blue batiste, and hustled downstairs.

Such a scene in the salon!  The Baronne seated on the large sofa with Jean; Godmamma and the mother of the young man in two of the armchairs; while Victorine fumbled with some music on the piano with the dame de compagnie, whom Heloise calls “le Remorqueur,” because she looks like a teeny tug pulling along a coal barge (Victorine).  The Marquis was standing up by himself—­with his hat and gloves in his hand—­first on one foot, then on the other; and Marie and Yolande were making horrid, shuffling, squeaking noises, sliding on the parquet by the window.

[Sidenote:  Wandering Glances]

When I was introduced and had made a reverence to the old ladies, the Marquis was presented, and when we had done bowing, he said:  “Vous etes anglaise, mademoiselle?” and, even for that, Victorine’s eyes shot two yellow flames at me!  Heloise nipped my arm to tell me to talk, so of course everything went out of my head, and I could only think of “Oui, monsieur.”  Just then breakfast was announced, and we all went in arm-in-arm, Godmamma and the Marquis together.  It is a huge round table, and I had done the flowers, because they wanted to be shown how we have tables in England.  I was next but one to the Marquis, with Heloise between.  We had scarcely sat down, when he began.  How beautiful the table looked, and what taste in the flowers!  Upon which Heloise said, that they were lovely, and were the arrangement of her “chere petite belle-soeur!” and she smiled angelically at Victorine, who looked down with conscious pride.  Then Heloise said that it was a great joy in life to have the absorbing love of flowers as Victorine had! and I could not help laughing, because Victorine doesn’t know one from another, and would not