The Romance of a Water-Lily. 87

huchées under her window at night? Oh no, he is
nothing to her!”

The short lip only curled a little more, and the
grey eyes gazed steadily.

“T cannot help his singing,” said she, quietly.
“The birds sing because God made them, and I
cannot still them.”

“Nay,” replied a swarthy youth in the offing,
“ Mistress Salome cannot help the ways of fools ; but
it is not for that to be supposed that she listens to
her own father’s cowherd !”

The lip did not uncurl, but the eyes dropped, the
pure profile was turned away, and only the flaxen
tresses were presented to the Bystanders ; the pitcher
was nearly full.

“ D’Orsiguet or no d’ Orsiguet,” continued the last
speaker, “his fortunes are fallen, and he is no match
now for the daughter of Farmer Duplessis.”

The proud head was raised again and the grey
eyes flashed, and the lips, trembling with anger,
opened to speak, but at that moment the gay

”