The company eyed the objects of this eulogium with great attention.
"Monsieur, my prayer is to deserve my bonheur," said Monsieur Giraud.
"Cher ange!" murmured Madame: and the happy pair seated themselves next to each other.
Mr. Love, who was all for those innocent pastimes which do away with conventional formality and reserve, now proposed a game at "Hunt the Slipper," which was welcomed by the whole party, except the Pole and the Vicomte; though Mademoiselle Adele looked prudish, and observed to the epicier, "that Monsieur Lofe was so droll, but she should not have liked her pauvre grandmaman to see her."
The Vicomte had stationed himself opposite to Mademoiselle de Courval, and kept his eyes fixed on her very tenderly.
"Mademoiselle, I see, does not approve of such bourgeois diversions," said he.
"No, monsieur," said the gentle Adele. "But I think we must sacrifice our own tastes to those of the company."
"It is a very amiable sentiment," said the epicier.
"It is one attributed to grandmamma's papa, the Marquis de Courval. It has become quite a hackneyed remark since," said Adele.
"Come, ladies," said the joyous Rosalie; "I volunteer my slipper."