Page:Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Volume 2.djvu/72

54 and the gentlemen drank healths every five minutes. A very French and festive scene it was; for the room was small, and twenty mortals were stowed therein. One fat lady sat in the fireplace, Papa Clomadoc leaned his heavy head upon the sideboard, and the plump shoulders of Madame F. were half out of the front window. "But it was genteel. Oh! I assure you, yes," as Françoise said.

How long they kept it up the weary trio did not wait to see; but retired to their beds, and slumbered peacefully, waking only when Gaston was borne up to his room, chanting the "Marseillaise" at the top of his voice.

Next day M. and Madame Clomadoc, Jr., made calls, and Pelagie had the joy of wearing her shawl. For three days she astonished the natives by promenading with her lord in a fresh toilette each day. On the fourth they all piled into a big carriage, and went away to make a round of visits, before the young people settled down at Boulogne.

The Americans never thought to hear any more of Pelagie; but, as dear old Madame C. wrote to them several times after they left, the little story