"Not positively. But I could see I should please her by coming for you;
there is, I believe, a bull or so about."

"A bull or two! don't talk in that reckless way about such things. She
has done well to send you; let us make haste."

"But I am a little out of breath."

"Oh, never mind that! I abhor bulls."

"But, mademoiselle, we are not come to them yet, and the faster we go
now the sooner we shall."

"Yes; but I always like to get a disagreeable thing over as soon as
possible," said Rose, slyly.

"Ah," replied Edouard, mournfully, "in that case let us make haste."

After a little spurt, mademoiselle relaxed the pace of her own accord,
and even went slower than before. There was an awkward silence. Edouard
eyed the park boundary, and thought, "Now what I have to say I must say
before we get to you;" and being thus impressed with the necessity of
immediate action, he turned to lead.

Rose eyed him and the ground, alternately, from under her long lashes.

At last he began to color and flutter. She saw something was coming, and
all the woman donned defensive armor.