"You must not be shy with me, Marie; I do not appear very terrible, do I?"
"Mais non, Mademoiselle," answered Marie, with a smile.
"Well then, you must call me Flora, and not Mademoiselle. I call you Marie."
"Quel joli nom vous avez."
"You like it!—then you must show me that you do by using it. But you speak English they say; I see that you understand it well."
"Oui, je le comprends très bien, Made——"
Flora looked at her and shook her head. Marie smiled, hesitated for a moment, and then said, coyly, "Flore."
"Wonderful!" exclaimed Flora, "there is a victory already gained! But you were going to say—
"Mais je ne le parle pas bien, et j'ai peur de vous."
Marie turned, and for the first time looked up fully in Flora's face.