"I love you!" said Ascanio.
"Wait here for me."
She returned a moment later with a beautiful fresh white lily.
"When you are working at that woman's lily of gold and jewels," said she, "glance sometimes at the simple lilies from your Colombe's garden."
With that she put her lips to the flower and handed it to the apprentice, as coquettishly as Madame d'Etampes herself could have done.
At that moment Dame Perrine appeared at the end of the path.
"Adieu and au revoir!" said Colombe, putting her hand to her lover's lips with a furtive, graceful gesture.
The governess approached them.
"Well, my child," she said to Colombe, "have you given the delinquent a good scolding, and selected your jewels?"
"Take this, Dame Perrine," said Ascanio, putting the box of trinkets in the good woman's hands still unopened; "Mademoiselle Colombe and I have decided that you shall yourself choose whatever suits you best, and I will come again to-morrow for the others."