But exclamations arose on all sides: 

“You did not notice the style of it—­the carriage and the harness shining like gold, and the little horses with their white rosettes on each side of the head.”

The crowd collected around the station, and those who were curious learned that they were going to witness the arrival of the new owners of Longueval.  They were slightly disenchanted when the two sisters appeared, very pretty, but in very simple travelling costumes.

These good people had almost expected the apparition of two princesses out of fairy tales, clad in silk and brocade, sparkling with rubies and diamonds.  But they opened wide their eyes when they saw Bettina walk slowly round the four ponies, caressing one after another lightly with her hand, and examining all the details of the team with the air of a connoisseur.

Having made her inspection, Bettina, without the least hurry, drew off her long Swedish gloves, and replaced them by a pair of dog-skin which she took from the pocket of the carriage apron.  Then she slipped on to the box in the place of Edwards, receiving from him the reins and whip with extreme dexterity, without allowing the already excited horses to perceive that they had changed hands.

Mrs. Scott seated herself beside her sister.  The ponies pranced, curveted, and threatened to rear.

“Be very careful, miss,” said Edwards; “the ponies are very fresh to-day.”

“Do not be afraid,” replied Bettina.  “I know them.”

Miss Percival had a hand at once very firm, very light, and very just.  She held in the ponies for a few moments, forcing them to keep their own places; then, waving the long thong of her whip round the leaders, she started her little team at once, with incomparable skill, and left the station with an air of triumph, in the midst of a long murmur of astonishment and admiration.

The trot of the black ponies rang on the little oval paving-stones of Souvigny.  Bettina held them well together until she had left the town, but as soon as she saw before her a clear mile and a half of highroad-almost on a dead level-she let them gradually increase their speed, till they went like the wind.

“Oh! how happy I am, Susie!” cried she; “and we shall trot and gallop all alone on these roads.  Susie, would you like to drive?  It is such a delight when one can let them go at full speed.  They are so spirited and so gentle.  Come, take the reins.”

“No; keep them.  It is a greater pleasure to me to see you happy.”

“Oh, as to that, I am perfectly happy.  I do like so much to drive four-in-hand with plenty of space before me.  At Paris, even in the morning, I did not dare to any longer.  They looked at me so, it annoyed me.  But here—­no one! no one! no one!”

At the moment when Bettina, already a little intoxicated with the bracing air and liberty, gave forth triumphantly these three exclamations, “No one! no one! no one!” a rider appeared, walking his horse in the direction of the carriage.  It was Paul de Lavardens.  He had been watching for more than an hour for the pleasure of seeing the Americans pass.