"I assure you that I should be very happy to be honoured with your confidence, monsieur," added Mlle. de Beaumesnil.
"And it would be a real proof of confidence, mademoiselle, for, as I told you, I was advised to keep the matter a secret, and I must confess, my dear Olivier, that it was to keep it a secret from you that I went out this morning."
"But why, uncle? I do not understand."
"Why, because in spite of all the advice in the world, in my first transports of happiness over the good news which I had just heard, I couldn't have helped falling upon your neck and telling you all. So I went out, hoping to become sufficiently accustomed to my happiness to be able to conceal it from you afterwards."
"But, uncle, what good news do you refer to?" inquired Olivier, with increasing surprise.
"Your friend who was at the house this morning did not tell you that his first visit was to me, did he?"
"No, uncle, when he came out into the garden to find me, I supposed he had just arrived."
"Yes, for we had agreed to say nothing about our interview, as it was he who brought me the good news, and Heaven knows he was pleased enough about it, though everything else seemed to be going wrong with him. In short, young ladies, you will understand my happiness, I think, when I tell you that my brave Olivier has been made an officer."
"I?" exclaimed Olivier, with rapturous delight, "I an officer?"
"Oh, what happiness for you, M. Olivier," cried Herminie.