Madame de Tecle, while responding courteously to the graceful speeches of Camors, walked on with a light and rapid step, her fairy-like little shoes leaving their impression on the smooth fine sand of the path.

She walked with indescribable, unconscious grace; with that supple, elastic undulation which would have been coquettish had it not been undeniably natural.  Reaching the wall that enclosed the right side of the park, she opened a wicket that led into a narrow path through a large field of ripe corn.  She passed into this path, followed in single file by Mademoiselle Marie and by Camors.  Until now the child had been very quiet, but the rich golden corn-tassels, entangled with bright daisies, red poppies, and hollyhocks, and the humming concert of myriads of flies-blue, yellow, and reddishbrownwhich sported amid the sweets, excited her beyond self-control.  Stopping here and there to pluck a flower, she would turn and cry, “Pardon, Monsieur;” until, at length, on an apple-tree growing near the path she descried on a low branch a green apple, no larger than her finger.  This temptation proved irresistible, and with one spring into the midst of the corn, she essayed to reach the prize, if Providence would permit.  Madame de Tecle, however, would not permit.  She seemed much displeased, and said, sharply: 

“Marie, my child!  In the midst of the corn!  Are you crazy!”

The child returned promptly to the path, but unable to conquer her wish for the apple, turned an imploring eye to Camors and said, softly:  “Pardon, Monsieur, but that apple would make my bouquet complete.”

Camors had only to reach up, stretch out his hand, and detach the branch from the tree.

“A thousand thanks!” cried the child, and adding this crowning glory to her bouquet, she placed the whole inside the ribbon around her hat and walked on with an air of proud satisfaction.

As they approached the fence running across the end of the field, Madame de Tecle suddenly said:  “My uncle, Monsieur;” and Camors, raising his head, saw a very tall man looking at them over the fence and shading his eyes with his hand.  His robust limbs were clad in gaiters of yellow leather with steel buttons, and he wore a loose coat of maroon velvet and a soft felt hat.  Camors immediately recognized the white hair and heavy black eyebrows as the same he had seen bending over the violin the night before.

“Uncle,” said Madame de Tecle, introducing the young Count by a wave of the hand:  “This is Monsieur de Camors.”

“Monsieur de Camors,” repeated the old man, in a deep and sonorous voice, “you are most welcome;” and opening the gate he gave his guest a soft, brown hand, as he continued:  “I knew your mother intimately, and am charmed to have her son under my roof.  Your mother was a most amiable person, Monsieur, and certainly merited—­” The old man hesitated, and finished his sentence by a sonorous “Hem!” that resounded and rumbled in his chest as if in the vault of a church.