A great basket was
placed on the seat. The girls blushed with pleasure, for a sweet odour
was wafted to them from it.
All the way home Esperance heard from Albert in detail all that had
happened to him since she had last seen him. She talked incessantly,
as if to drown her thoughts under a sea of nonsense. At the farm the
young man could see the pleasure they all showed at his return. Of
course he was somewhat astonished to learn that Maurice was absent
with the Duchess, for he had not yet heard of the events that had
happened during his absence.
They all gathered together in the dining-room. The Count took out of
his pocket a little case, and asking Esperance to give him her hand,
slipped on to her middle finger a magnificent engagement ring. Somehow
her hand went cold as death as Albert held it, and her face contracted
strangely.
"Do you regret your word already, Esperance?" he asked in a nervous,
low voice.
"No, no, Albert," she said quickly, nervously twisting the ring on her
finger, "but this is a very serious moment, and you know that I
incline to taking things seriously here," and she put her hand across
her heart. Then she smiled, pressed his hand, and showed the ring to
Genevieve. They all examined and admired the beautiful jewel. When the
philosopher turned to praise it Albert had disappeared.
The basket was opened revealing a bouquet of magnificent white
orchids, marvellously fresh, held in a white scarf with embroidered
ends.
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