Belle-Rose — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A WOMAN’S HAND. oS ae you. You love a little girl who is my sister, and from the manner in which you look at me, I have every reason to believe that this sister returns this love with her whole soul.’’. ‘‘It is my cherished belief. ’’ ‘Tis very well, and I approve of her having placed her affections so well. Butas she is an honest girl, just as you are an honest man, I see insurmountable difficulties to the happy ending of this mutual affection.”’ ‘And what are they, if you please?”’ ‘In the first place, my sister is thoroughly plebeian, being the daughter of a simple falconer.”’ “That is something to which my family alone would have the right to offér an objection, and as I alone consti- tute my family, you will find it good, I hope, that my nobility reconciles itself to your plebeian state. ’ ‘*Nevertheless——’’ ‘‘Enough on that line. Besides, if you persist therein, do not forget that you are an officer now; the sword en- nobles. ’’ ‘Agreed! but Claudine has almost nothing.’’ ‘That almost nothing borders so close on my very little that, without being much compromised, my fortune can ally itself to her poverty. ’’ ‘You have a logic which does not permit me to con- tinue. Behold my obstacles overthrown. ’ ‘That is what I counted upon; so you consent?’’ ‘‘And the king’s post will count two or three foundered horses the more.’’ | ‘So much the worse for them—it is their business to 2s Ses ‘Is it ours to construct fine projects which a cannon- ball may upset?”’ ‘*Bah! half of people’s lives is passed in baildivie plans; it is so much gained upon the other half.’’ ‘Therefore you will leave?’’ ‘To-morrow, at sunrise. You will go to Flanders and I to Artois. ”’ ‘*And from there to Paris?”" ‘‘No, to the army, to you.’ “You will -nter our ranks?” “Unquestionably! An Irishman is half a Frenchman. We will fight first, and I shall get married atterward.”’ Eomicbooks (G0)