Page:Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Volume 2.djvu/198

180 "She will scold us for coming here," said Amanda, remembering her own lectures on the proprieties.

"Yes; but she will forgive us the minute we say Napoleon, for that bad little man is one of her heroes," added Mat, pretending to be admiring the view, while she privately examined a lady in a bower below. A stout, dark lady with all the family traits so strongly marked that there could be no doubt of the young man's assertion.

Presently he came back with an affable old gentleman who evidently had an eye to the main chance; for, in spite of his elegance and affability, he asked a great price for his rooms, and felt that any untitled stranger should be glad to pay well for the honor of living under the roof of a Buonaparte.

Amanda left the decision to her invisible duenna, and with a profusion of compliments and thanks, they got away, being gallantly escorted to the gate by the young count, who filled their hands with flowers, and gazed pensively after them, as if he found the society of two bright American girls very agreeable after that of his lofty parents, or the peasants of the town.

Home they ran and bounced in upon Livy,