Madame la Vicomtesse"-- he took that lady's hand--"what a pleasure! Mademoiselle Lucille--as beautiful as ever." "Even more so," replied Lucille with her gay laugh.

"What exquisite riding-boots! But are they not a little tight, Alphonse ?" For Lucille could not perceive why playmates should suddenly begin to monsieur and mademoiselle each other after years of intimacy.

This was the rock in that path which Alphonse, like the rest of us, found anything but smooth.

Lucille was so gay.

It is difficult to make serious love to a person who is not even impressed by English riding-boots.
[Illustration: "WHAT EXQUISITE RIDING-BOOTS! BUT ARE THEY NOT A LITTLE TIGHT, ALPHONSE ?"] At this moment the Baron's carriage appeared on the zig-zag road below the chateau, and Madame de Clericy's face assumed an expression of placid resignation.