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 ʼll 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.

BABETTE (sings).
“Once at the Angelus

(Ere I was dead),
Angels all glorious

Came to my Bed ;-
Angels in blue and white

Crowned on the Head."