What's happened ?" "Oh, we are good friends," said Alice, quickly, "very good friends, indeed; I was but chaffing." "Good friends, but enemies; that's how it is with women.

Who's the young man that's caused the coolness?
I could guess, maybe!" He laughed and winked knowingly.

"May I be so bold as to name him at a venture ?" "Yes, if you'll be sure to mention Monsieur Rene de Ronville," she gayly answered.

"Who but he could work Adrienne up into a perfect green mist of jealousy ?" "He would need an accomplice, I should imagine; a young lady of some beauty and a good deal of heartlessness." "Like whom, for example ?" and she tossed her bright head.

"Not me, I am sure." "Poh! like every pretty maiden in the whole world, ma petite coquette; they're all alike as peas, cruel as blue jays and as sweet as apple-blossoms." He stroked her hair clumsily with his large hand, as a heavy and roughly fond man is apt to do, adding in an almost serious tone: "But my little girl is better than most of them, not a foolish mischief-maker, I hope." Alice was putting her head through the string of beads and letting the translucent white disc fall into her bosom.
"It's time to change the subject," she said; "tell me what you have seen while away.