beholder.

The next Sunday he went to church--and there worshipped--whom? Cupid.
He smarted for his heathenism; for the young ladies went with higher
motives, and took no notice of him. They lowered their long silken
lashes over one breviary, and scarcely observed the handsome citizen.
Meantime he, contemplating their pious beauty with earthly eyes, was
drinking long draughts of intoxicating passion. And when after the
service they each took an arm of Dr. Aubertin, and he with the air of an
admiral convoying two ships choke-full of specie, conducted his precious
charge away home, our young citizen felt jealous, and all but hated the
worthy doctor.

This went on till he became listless and dejected on the days he did not
see them. Then he asked himself whether he was not a cowardly fool
to keep at such a distance. After all he was a man in authority. His
friendship was not to be despised, least of all by a family suspected of
disaffection to the state.

He put on his glossy beaver with enormous brim, high curved; his
blue coat with brass buttons; his white waistcoat, gray breeches, and
top-boots; and marched up to the chateau of Beaurepaire, and sent in his
card with his name and office inscribed.

Jacintha took it, bestowed a glance of undisguised admiration on
the young Adonis, and carried it to the baroness. That lady sent her
promptly down again with a black-edged note to this effect.


Highly flattered by Monsieur de Riviere's visit, the baroness must