her very charming, but I have heard that she is weak in the lungs.'
Then, sir, I did a very unusual thing for me. I begged pardon for having
heard unintentionally, and I said to my old pupil: 'I think I have
guessed that a marriage is in question. Will you authorize me to give
you a piece of advice--advice drawn from the practice of my profession?
Do they allow this young lady to waltz?' You know there are mothers who
do not permit--"

"I know, I know."



We had arrived at this point in that interesting conversation when the
ballet ended. The bishop and myself were assailed by an actual whirlwind
of skaters, and my little Westphalian peasant-girl found me where she
had left me.

"I declare!" she said to me, "so you come to confess at the opera? Give
him absolution, Morin, and give it to me, too. Now then, come along to
the greenroom."

She took my arm, and we went off together, while the excellent Morin,
with gravity and dignity beneath his sacred ornaments, withstood the
shock of this avalanche of dancers.




THE CIRCUS CHARGER