seized the moment to give us a new proof of his talent in executing the
most brilliant of his former performances. In one jump he had placed his
fore-feet on the carriage, then, that done, he quietly continued
trotting on his two hind-legs. Bob, distracted, with his body thrown
over and his head thrown back, was making vain attempts to put the horse
back on his four legs.

"As to Mme. de Noriolis, she was so well frightened, that, letting the
reins drop from her hands, she had simply thrown herself in my arms. Her
adorable little head had rolled hap-hazard on my shoulder, and my lips
just touched her hair. With my left hand I tried to recover the reins,
with my right I supported Mme. de Noriolis; my leg hurt me frightfully,
and I was seized with a queer feeling of confusion.

"It was thus that Mme. de Noriolis made her first entry into La
Roche-Targé.

"When she returned there, one evening at midnight, six weeks later,
having during the day become Mme. de La Roche-Targé, she said:

"'What is life, after all? Nothing like this would have happened if you
hadn't bought the circus charger.'"




BLACKY


"Don't be alarmed, sir; you won't miss the train. For the last fifteen