simply to us, "Boys, I am going to be married to M. de Pavannes."

I fell flat on my back and spread out my arms. "Oh,
Mademoiselle!" I cried reproachfully.

"Oh, Mademoiselle!" cried Marie. And he fell flat on his back,
and spread out his arms and moaned. He was a good brother, was
Marie, and obedient.

And Croisette cried, "Oh, mademoiselle!" too. But he was always
ridiculous in his ways. He fell flat on his back, and flopped his
arms and squealed like a pig.

Yet he was sharp. It was he who first remembered our duty, and
went to Catherine, cap in hand, where she sat half angry and half
confused, and said with a fine redness in his cheeks,
"Mademoiselle de Caylus, our cousin, we give you joy, and wish
you long life; and are your servants, and the good friends and
aiders of M. de Pavannes in all quarrels, as--"

But I could not stand that. "Not so fast, St. Croix de Caylus" I
said, pushing him aside--he was ever getting before me in those
days--and taking his place. Then with my best bow I began,
"Mademoiselle, we give you joy and long life, and are your
servants and the good friends and aiders of M. de Pavannes in all
quarrels, as--as--"

"As becomes the cadets of your house," suggested Croisette,
softly.