"If you please; and I hope you will bear Gilbert no ill will."
"What is it to me whether he loves you or not? You burden me, miss."
"I daresay," said Nicole, bursting out in anger at last; "you have said the same thing to Gilbert."
"I speak to your Gilbert! You are mad, girl; leave me in peace."
"If you do not speak to him now, I believe the silence will not last long."
"Lord forgive her—the silly jade is jealous!" exclaimed Andrea, covering her with a disdainful look, and laughing. "Cheer up, little Legay! I never looked at your pretty Gilbert, and I do not so much as know the color of his eyes."
Andrea was quite ready to overlook what seemed folly and not pertness; but Nicole felt offended, and did not want pardon.
"I can quite believe that—for one cannot get a good look in the nighttime."
"Take care to make yourself clear at once," said Andrea, very pale.
"Last night, I saw——"