mamma; oh, never, never. But sometimes I despair; American girls are
so wonderfully frank. I can't be frank, like that. I am always
afraid. But I do what I can, as you see. Excusez du peu!"

I thought this young lady at least as outspoken as most of her
unexpatriated sisters; there was something almost comical in her
despondency. But she had by no means caught, as it seemed to me, the
American tone. Whatever her tone was, however, it had a fascination;
there was something dainty about it, and yet it was decidedly
audacious.

The young ladies began to stroll about the garden again, and I
enjoyed their society until M. Pigeonneau's festival came to an end.



CHAPTER V.



Mr. Ruck did not take his departure for Appenzell on the morrow, in
spite of the eagerness to witness such an event which he had
attributed to Mrs. Church. He continued, on the contrary, for many
days after, to hang about the garden, to wander up to the banker's
and back again, to engage in desultory conversation with his fellow-
boarders, and to endeavour to assuage his constitutional restlessness
by perusal of the American journals. But on the morrow I had the
honour of making Mrs. Church's acquaintance. She came into the
salon, after the midday breakfast, with her German octavo under her
arm, and she appealed to me for assistance in selecting a quiet