Nor when Madame would be out of sorts and ruffled, as great ladies will be sometimes, would she know how to say the right word just at the right time; and then Annot has too much of her father's rough blood, and if Madame scolded at all, it's ten chances to one, but she would scold again, and that, you know, wouldn't do.

No, M.Chapeau, Annot had better remain as she is, and keep her father's house, till she marries some honest tradesman, like myself, when these deadly wars be over." "Well, but my dear friend," said Chapeau, "I had another little proposition I wanted to make, which would fit in so well with what I suggested; and I can assure you Madame Henri, that is Mademoiselle de Lescure as she is now, you know, is the softest, sweetest-tempered creature living--she wouldn't quarrel with any one, much less with such a little angel as your daughter." "I'm sure," said Michael, making a low bow to his guest, and pressing the handle of his pipe to his breast.

"I'm sure my daughter will be very thankful for the great interest you take respecting her." "But as I was saying, you know, about this other little proposition of mine ?" "Well, M.Chapeau, I'm listening with all my ears, and very thankful for your kind friendship." "You see," said Jacques, "M.

Henri is going to change his condition; we've both been young fellows together; we've had our amusements and our pleasures like other young men, and, maybe, been as fortunate as most.
Well, my friend, M.Henri is going to settle down, and marry the girl of his heart, whom he loves better than all the world; and what can I do better than follow his example?
The truth is, I mean to settle down too, Michael Stein." "Well," said Michael, scratching his head, and listening for the remainder of Chapeau's little proposition.
"And I want to marry the girl of my heart, whom I love better than all the world, and her name is Annot Stein, and there's an end of it; and now you know all about it." Annot's heart beat quickly as she heard him make the last important declaration; and beautifully she thought he made it.

When Chapeau called her a little angel, she swore to herself that he was the dearest fellow that ever lived and when he finished by protesting that she was the girl of his heart, and that he loved her better than all the world, she longed to run out and throw her arms about his neck.
Michael Stein took a long pull at his pipe, and blew out a huge cloud of tobacco before he made any answer, and then he said: "M.