“And when mademoiselle hear’ what that play is ab-out she consent’ at the lazt to go.  Biccause tha’z ab-out a girl what billieve’ a man’s in love to her, biccause he pay her those li’l’ galanterie of high life—­li’l’ pol-ite figtion’—­what every man—–­unless he’s marrie’—­egspect to pay to every girl, to make thing’ pleasant, you know?

“And that play turn out a so egcellent that many people, paying admission ad the door, find they got to pay ag-ain, secon’ time, ad their seat, in tear’ that they weep; and that make it not so hard for Melanie, who weep ab-out ten price’.  Negs day, Sunday, avter church and dinner, she come yonder ad the home of mademoiselle, you know, Bourbon Street, and sit with her in the gol’fish bower of that li’l’ garden behine.  And she’s very much bow’ down.  And she h-ask mademoiselle if she ain’t notiz sinz long time how De l’Isle is paying intention to her, Melanie.  But mademoiselle di’n’ have to be embarrazz’ what to answer, biccause Melanie she’s so rattle’ she don’t wait to hear.  And Melanie she say tha’z one cause that she was wanting De l’Isle to see that play; biccause sinz lately she’s notiz he’s make himseff very complimentary also to mademoiselle, and she, Melanie, she want’ him to notiz how that way he’s in danger to make mizunderstanding and diztress to himseff and—­all concern’.

“And she prod-uce’ a piece paper fill’ with memorandum’ of compliment’ he’s say to her one time and other, what she’s wrote down whiles frezh spoken and what she billieve’ are proof that he’s in love to her and inten’ to make his proposition so soon he’s got good sign’ he’ll be accept’.  ‘But I ain’t never give’ him sign,’ she say, ’biccause a girl she cann’ never be too careful.  And so I think I’m bound to show that to you, biccause I muz’n’ be careful only for myseff, and if he’s say such thing’ likewise to you, then tha’z to be false to both of us together.  But, I think,’ she say, ‘M.  De l’Isle he coul’n’ never do that!’”

“How did she say all that, angrily or meekly?”

“Oh! meek and weeping till mademoiselle she’s compel’ to weep likewise.  And ad the end she’s compel’ to tell Melanie yes, De l’Isle he’s pay her those same kind of sentimental plaisanteries; rosebud’ to pin on the heart outside, a few minute’, till the negs cavalier.  Castanado, she say, Beloiseau, they do the same—­even more.  ‘Ah!’ Melanie say, ’but only to you! and only biccause to say any mo’ they are yet af-raid!  Mademoiselle, those both, they are both in love to you!’

“And when Melanie say that, Mlle. Aline take the both hand’ of Melanie in her both han’ and ask her if she ain’t herseff put them both, Castanado, Beloiseau, up to that—­to fall in love to her.  And pretty soon Melanie she’s compel’ to confezz that, not with word’, but juz’ with the fore-head on the knee of mademoiselle and crying like babie.  And she say she’s sin’.  And yet same time while she h-ask’ mademoiselle to pray the good God and the mother of God to forgive that sin, she h-ask her to pray also that they’ll make De l’Isle to love her.