THB ABBi OONSTANTIH. 165

" Are you an officer ? "

" Yes, I am an officer."

" What in ? ••

" In the artiUery."

" The artillery ! Oh 1 you are one of the
men who fire the cannons. Oh! how I
should like to be quite near when they fire the
cannons I "

" Will you take us some day when they fire
the cannons ? Tell me, will you ? "

Meanwhile Mrs. Scott chatted with the
Gut6, and Jean, while replying to the chil-
dren's questions, looked at Mrs. Scott« She
wore a white muslin dress, but the muslin
disappeared under a complete avalanche of
little flounces of Yalenciennes. The dress was
cut out in front in a large square, her arms
were bare to the elbow, a large bouquet of
red roses at the opening of her dress, a red
rose fixed in her hair, with a diamond agraffe
— nothing more.
Mrs. Scott suddenly perceived that the



166 THB abb£ oonstantin.
ohildren had taken entire possession of Jean,
and exclaimed —

" Oh ! I beg your pardon. Harry, Bella/'

" Oh ! pray let them stay with me/*

" I am so sorry to keep you waiting for
dinner ; my sister is not down yet. Oh 1 here
she is I ''

Bettina entered. The same dress of white
muslin, the same delicate mass of lace, the
same red roses, the same grace, the same
beauty, and the same smiling, amiable, candid
manner.
