“Truly, how can it be otherwise, when you put our heads under the great hood of your pelisse?” said Rose, laughing.
“There they are again, mocking-birds! One never has the last word with them. Come, ladies, your secret, since a secret there is.”
“Speak, sister,” said Rose.
“No, miss, it is for you to speak. You are to-day on duty, as eldest, and such an important thing as telling a secret like that you talk of belongs of right to the elder sister. Come, I am listening to you,” added the soldier, as he forced a smile, the better to conceal from the maidens how much he still felt the unpunished affronts of the brute tamer.
It was Rose (who, as Dagobert said, was doing duty as eldest) that spoke for herself and for her sister.
CHAPTER VI. THE SECRET.
“First of all, good Dagobert,” said Rose, in a gracefully caressing manner, “as we are going to tell our secret—you must promise not to scold us.”
“You will not scold your darlings, will you?” added Blanche, in a no less coaxing voice.
“Granted!” replied Dagobert gravely; “particularly as I should not well know how to set about it—but why should I scold you.”