OF THE FOREST. 61

haying shrugged up my shoulders several
times, to acquiesce in my ignorance.

Madame Bulé did not fail to inform the
young ladies of the kind invitation of the
Baronne; and the next day, when these
young people had concluded their morning
exercises, an envoy was sent to request my
company at the collation, in order that I
might be consulted respecting preparations
for the Feast of the Flowers,

As soon as I arrived, various questions were
put to me by one and by another, many of
which I was not able to answer.

“To whom,” said one, “does Madame la
Baronne mean to give the crown, father? to
the one who has the fairest garland, or to the
one whom otherwise she likes best?”

“With respect to the beauty of the gar-
land,” I answered, “it might perhaps be hard
to judge; taste may differ, one person may
think that no wreath can be compared to that
which is formed of roses, whilst another per-
haps might prefer a garland of jasmine as
being more elegant.”

F