When it pleases you to be gay, I make you laugh; when it suits me to be loving, I look at you.

I have given you a commission of lady of honor which you wished for; you will give me, presently, something I wish for." "I will ?" "Yes, you will; but, at this moment, my dear Aure, I declare to you that I wish for absolutely nothing, so be at ease." "You are a frightful man, Malicorne; I was going to rejoice at getting this commission, and thus you quench my joy." "Good; there is no time lost,--you will rejoice when I am gone." "Go, then; and after--" "So be it; but in the first place, a piece of advice." "What is it ?" "Resume your good-humor,--you are ugly when you pout." "Coarse!" "Come, let us tell the truth to each other, while we are about it." "Oh, Malicorne! Bad-hearted man!" "Oh, Montalais! Ungrateful girl!" The young man leant with his elbow upon the window-frame; Montalais took a book and opened it.

Malicorne stood up, brushed his hat with his sleeve, smoothed down his black doublet;--Montalais, though pretending to read, looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Good!" cried she, furious; "he has assumed his respectful air--and he will pout for a week." "A fortnight, mademoiselle," said Malicorne, bowing.
Montalais lifted up her little doubled fist.

"Monster!" said she; "oh! that I were a man!" "What would you do to me ?" "I would strangle you." "Ah! very well, then," said Malicorne; "I believe I begin to desire something." "And what do you desire, Monsieur Demon?
That I should lose my soul from anger ?" Malicorne was rolling his hat respectfully between his fingers; but, all at once, he let fall his hat, seized the young girl by the shoulders, pulled her towards him, and sealed her mouth with two lips that were very warm, for a man pretending to so much indifference.

Aure would have cried out, but the cry was stifled in his kiss.