NINETTE.
Well, as to that, he must be tall,
Or say, not “ tall,”—of middle size;
And next, he must have laughing eyes,
And a hook-nose,-with, underneath,
O! what a row of sparkling teeth !

NINON (touching her cheek suspiciously.) Has he a scar on this side ?

NINETTE. .

Hush ! Someone is coming. No; a thrush: I see it swinging there.

NINON.

Go on.

NINETTE.
Then he must fence, (ah, look, 'tis gone !)
And dance like Monseigneur, and sing
“Love was a Shepherd ”:-everything
That men do. Tell me yours, NINON.

NINON. Shall I? Then mine has black, black hair. . . I mean he should have ; then an air

Half sad, half noble ; features thin ;
A little royale on the chin ;
And such a pale, high brow. And then,
He is a prince of gentlemen ;-
He, too, can ride and fence, and write
Sonnets and madrigals, yet fight
No worse for that,

NINETTE.

I know your man.

NINON.
And I know yours. But you 'll not tell,
Swear it!

NINETTE.

I swear upon this fan,My Grandmother's !

NINON.

And I, I swear
On this old turquoise reliquaire,
My great,-great Grandmother's !!
(After a pause.)

NINETTE! I feel so sad.

NINETTE.

I too. But why?

NINON. Alas, I know not !

NINETTE (with a sigh).

Nor do I.

“GOOD-NIGHT, BABETTE!”

“Si vieillesse pouvait !-".

Scene.—A small neat Room. In a high Voltaire Chair

sits a white-haired old Gentleman.

MONSIEUR VIEUXBOIS.

BABETTE.

DAY

M. VIEUXBOIS (turning querulously).
AY of my life! Where can she get?

BABETTE! I say ! BABETTE !--BABETTE !

BABETTE (entering hurriedly).
Coming, M'sieu’! If M'sieu' speaks
So loud, he won't be well for weeks !

M. VIEUXBOIS.
Where have you been?

BABETTE.

Why M'sieu' knows :-
April !... Ville-d'Avray ....Ma'am'selle Rose !

M. VIEUXBOIS.
Ah ! I am old,--and I forget.
Was the place growing green, BABETTE ?

BABETTE.
But of a greenness !--yes, M'sieu'!
And then the sky so blue !-so blue !
And when I dropped my immortelle,
How the birds sang !
(Lifting her apron to her eyes.)

This poor Ma'am'selle !

M. VIEUXBOIS. You're a good girl, BABETTE, but she,She was an Angel, verily. Sometimes I think I see her yet Stand smiling by the cabinet ; And once, I know, she peeped and laughed Betwixt the curtains .

Where's the draught? (She gives him a cup.) Now I shall sleep, I think, BABETTE ;Sing me your Norman chansonnette.