lflicker,thelight-colouredlashesbeliftedasecond,andablueeye,glancingoutfromunderthescreen,willtakeitsbrief,sly,searchingsurvey,andretreatagain.”
Ismiled,andsodidPelet,andafterafewminutes’silence,Iasked:
“Willsheevermarry,doyouthink?”
“Marry!Willbirdspair?Ofcourseitisbothherintentionandresolutiontomarrywhenshefindsasuitablematch,andnooneisbetterawarethanherselfofthesortofimpressionsheiscapableofproducingnoonelikesbettertocaptivateinaquietway.Iammistakenifshewillnotyetleavetheprintofherstealingstepsonthyheart,Crimsworth.”
“Ofhersteps?Confoundit,no!Myheartisnotaplanktobewalkedon.”
“Butthesofttouchofapattedevelourswilldoitnoharm.”
“Sheoffersmenopattedevelourssheisallformandreservewithme.”
“Thattobeginwithletrespectbethefoundation,affectionthefirstfloor,lovethesuperstructureMdlle.Reuterisaskilfularchitect.”
“Andinterest,M.Pelet—interest.Willnotmademoiselleconsiderthatpoint?”
“Yes,yes,nodoubtitwillbethecementbetweeneverystone.Andnowwehavediscussedthedirectress,whatofthepupils?N’ya-t-ilpasdebellesetudesparmicesjeunestetes?”
“Studiesofcharacter?Yescuriousones,atleast,Iimaginebutonecannotdivinemuchfromafirstinterview.”
“Ah,youaffectdiscretionbuttellmenow,wereyounotalittleabashedbeforethesebloomingyoungcreatures?”
“Atfirst,yesbutIralliedandgotthroughwithallduesang-froid.”
“Idon’tbelieveyou.”
“Itistrue,notwithstanding.AtfirstIthoughtthemangels,buttheydidnotleavemelongunderthatdelusionthreeoftheeldestandhandsomestundertookthetaskofsettingmeright,andtheymanagedsocleverlythatinfiveminutesIknewthem,atleast,forwhattheywere—threearrantcoquettes.”
“Jelesconnais!”exclaimedM.Pelet.“Ellessonttoujoursaupremierrangal’egliseetalapromenadeuneblondesuperbe,unejolieespiegle,unebellebrune.”
“Exactly.”
“Lovelycreaturesallofthem—headsforarti