Page:Francesca Carrara 1.pdf/124

120 "A very feminine little bit of spite," said the Duc de Mercœur.

"Now why do you say feminine?" exclaimed Francesca; "I think I could remember many small instances of masculine vengeance."

"I observe," rejoined Marie, "we are always blamed; but, after all, Mademoiselle's revenge told. For my part, if I had a lover, I should give him all sorts of nice things to eat. I believe the pleasures of childhood, being translated, means the comfits and confections with which we were regaled. As for myself, I candidly own to being greedy."

"Did not the King," said Madame de Mercœur, "admire your pretty fingers while stripping the grapes the other day?"

"I think," replied Marie, laughing, "that great science, the science of grace, which I consider one of the fine arts, may be displayed in eating a bunch of grapes. First, there is the stalk to be poised in one hand, then the small fingers are to be put in motion while picking the berries of the purple fruit one by one; then a pretty eagerness may be evinced, and a half smile shows at once your teeth and your dimples; and all this without that constant suspicion of display which attends your bending over a lute."