Perhaps, in about ten days, you will write to my sister--a little note of three or four lines--it will not take much of your time--just to tell her how you are, and that you do not forget us." "Oh, as to forgetting you, as to losing the remembrance of your extreme kindness, your goodness, never, Miss Percival, never!" His voice trembled, he was afraid of his own emotion, he rose.
"I assure you, Miss Percival, I must go and speak to your sister.

She is looking at me.

She must be astonished." He crossed the room, Bettina followed him with her eyes.
Mrs.Norton had just placed herself at the piano to play a waltz for the young people.
Paul de Lavardens approached Miss Percival.
"Will you do me the honor, Miss Percival ?" "I believe I have just promised this dance to Monsieur Jean," she replied.
"Well, if not to him, will you give it to me ?" "That is understood." Bettina walked toward Jean, who had seated himself near Mrs.Scott.
"I have just told a dreadful story," said she.

"Monsieur de Lavardens has asked me for this dance, and I replied that I had promised it to you.

You would like it, wouldn't you ?" To hold her in his arms, to breathe the perfume of her hair--Jean felt his courage could not support this ordeal, he dared not accept.
"I regret extremely I can not, I am not well tonight; I persisted in coming because I would not leave without wishing you good-by, but dance, no, it is impossible!" Mrs.Norton began the prelude of the waltz.
"Well," said Paul, coming up quite joyful, "who is it to be, he or I ?" "You," she said, sadly, without removing her eyes from Jean.
She was much disturbed, and replied without knowing well what she said.
She immediately regretted having accepted, she would have liked to stay there, near him.