Eve, conducted by her partner, passed near them, and turning:
"Gaston," she said in a tone of affectionate familiarity, "will you be our vis-â-vis?"
The young girls found themselves in each other's presence, their looks met; Louise's ardent gratitude suddenly aroused Eva de La Tour-d'Adam's sympathy.
"What a charming young girl! Do you know her, sir?"
"No, Miss Eve," answered Eve's partner, and his reply was not finished without the compliment called forth by a natural term of comparison, but the triumphant gentleman expended his eloquence for nothing.
"Does she know me?" said Louise to Gaston; "how she looks at me!"
"Eve does not know who you are; she will doubtless ask me your name; well, in telling it, I shall not relate any of your family secrets."
"Oh! so much the better!" exclaimed Louise.
"Just now you were blushing and turning pale, I heard, I noticed--"
Louise lowered her eyes in embarrassment.