say--say--I was taken by surprise, I--I"--a violent flood of tears
interrupted the sentence.

Rose flung her arms round her neck. "My beautiful Josephine marry that
creature? Let house and lands go a thousand times sooner. I love my
sister a thousand times better than the walls of this or any other
house."

"Come, come," cried Edouard, "you are forgetting ME all this time. Do
you really think I am the sort of man to stand by with my hands in
my pockets, and let her marry that cur, or you be driven out of
Beaurepaire? Neither, while I live."

"Alas! dear boy," sighed Josephine, "what can you do?"

"I'll soon show you. From this hour forth it is a duel between that
Perrin and me. Now, Josephine--Rose--don't you cry and fret like that:
but just look quietly on, and enjoy the fight, both of you."

Josephine shook her head with a sad smile: but Rose delivered herself
thus, after a sob, "La, yes; I forgot: we have got a gentleman now;
that's one comfort."

Edouard rose to the situation: he saw that Perrin would lose no time;
and that every day, or even hour, might be precious. He told them that
the first thing he must do for them was to leave the company he loved
best on earth, and run down to the town to consult Picard the rival
notary: he would be back by supper-time, when he hoped they would do
him the honor, in a matter of such importance, to admit him to a family
council.