The company rose in a mass to go and get them, and soon they were in the garden; then scattered over the lawn; then every where, laughing, making merry, and behaving like a crowd of children released from school. The damsels acted shepherdesses to perfection, and closely resembled the pictures we are accustomed to see upon the fans which ladies use even to the present day. Their little airs of sylvan simplicity were very pretty; and the gallant gentlemen were not backward in their part. They bowed and simpered until they resembled so many supple-jacks, pulled by the finger of a child.
"Look," said Jacques to Belle-bouche, and sighing slightly as he gazed upon the fresh beauty of her face; "see those lovers yonder——"
"Lovers?" said Belle-bouche, smiling.
"I am not mistaken, I think," said Jacques; "yes, yes, my queen, they are lovers. Do you not think that something like that which I spoke of formerly will come to pass?"
Belle-bouche, with a delicious little rose-color brightening her cheek, replied, patting her satin-sandalled foot upon the flowery sward:
"Which you spoke of—pray, what did you speak of?"
"Of my wish to be a shepherd——"
"Ah—a shepherd," said Belle-bouche, removing a cherry blossom from her hair, and smiling.
"Yes, my lovely queen," said Jacques, with great readiness; "I wished to be a shepherd and have a crook——"
"Oh, sir!"