gone, Lisette, annoyed at the silence on the affairs of the day, introduced it herself, by demanding of Victorine, “If she still refused to accompany her to the chapel.”
“My parents, and Madame La Baronne, have accepted my apologies, Lisette,” she said, “I wish that you too were content; I shall watch you to the chapel doors, and even hope to be present at your fête this evening.”
“I wish you would dispense with my company also!” exclaimed Caliste with a bitter tone; “for, to confess the truth, my head throbs fearfully, so that I can scarce endure the pain it gives me.”
“What!” exclaimed Lisette, “do you too refuse to accompany me, Caliste; alas! how unfortunate am I, possessing as I do three sisters, and yet there is not one amongst them who rejoices in my triumph.”
“Because you are so often cross and ill-tempered,” replied Mimi; “and if people will be cross, and will be ill-tempered, they cannot expect that others will love them.”
Lisette deigned not to notice these words of her young sister; but, turning to Caliste, she inquired, “If she really was so very unamiable as to determine to stay from her fête.”
“If you felt the intolerable anguish in your
head that I do in mine,” replied Caliste, “you would think me very unamiable to press you to go.”
“But I cannot, nor will not dispense with your company, Caliste,” was her answer; “unless Victorine will go in your stead. You can wear the same dress; for how odd it would look if I had no sister with me!”
“Indeed,” replied Caliste, with an air of nonchalance, “I will not ask Victorine to go in my stead, neither will I promise to go myself. Cannot you take Mimi in my place?”