Belle-Bouche laughed.
"You agree with me, then, that my voice is wretchedly out of tune?" she said mischievously.
Poor Jacques only sighed and blushed.
"Betty Martin was a foolish girl," said Belle-bouche, laughing to hide her embarrassment.
"How?" murmured Jacques.
Belle-bouche found that she was involved in a delicate explanation; but thinking boldness the best, she replied:
"Because she could not find just the husband she wanted. You know the song says so—'some were too coarse and some too fine.'"
"Yes," murmured Jacques; "and 'tis often the case with us poor fellows. We seldom find the Chloe we want—she flies us ever spite of our attempts to clasp her to our hearts."
"That is not because Chloe is fickle, but because Corydon is so difficult to please," Belle-bouche replied, with a sly little smile.
"Ah! I am not!" he sighed.