The Youth of Jefferson | Page 8

in the air, and filling the groves with their joyous carolling.
"How free they are!" she murmured.
"The birds? Yes, madam, they live in delightful liberty, as we of America will, I trust, some day."
"I wonder if they're married," said Philippa laughing, and refusing to enter upon the wrongs of England toward the colonies; "they are fighting, I believe, and thus I presume they are united in marriage--by some parson Crow!"
Mowbray only smiled slightly, and looked at his watch.
"What! not going!" cried Philippa.
"Pardon," he said; "I just rode out for an hour. We have a lecture in half an hour."
"And you prefer the excellent Dr. Small or some other reverend gentleman to myself--the collegiate to the sylvan, the male to the female lecturer?"
He smiled wearily.
"Our duties are becoming more exacting," he said; "the examination is approaching."
"I should suppose so--you have not been to see me for a whole week."
A flush passed over Mowbray's brow; then it became as pale as before.
"Our acquaintance has not been an extended one," he said; "I could not intrude upon your society."
"Intrude!"
And abandoning completely her laughing cynical manner, Philippa gave him a look which made him tremble. Why was that excitement? Because he thought he had fathomed her; because he had convinced himself that she was a coquette, amusing herself at his expense; because he saw all his dreams, his illusions, his hopes pass away with the fleeting minutes. He replied simply:
"Yes, madam--even now I fear I am trespassing upon your time; you probably await my departure to betake yourself to your morning's amusement. I was foolish enough to imagine that I had not completely lost my powers of conversation, buried as I have been in books. I was mistaken--I no longer jest--I am a poor companion. Then," he added, "we are so uncongenial--at least this morning. I will come some day when I am gay, and you sad--then we shall probably approximate in mood, and until then farewell."
She would have detained him; "Don't go!" was on her lips; but at the moment when Mowbray bowed low, a shout of laughter was heard in the passage, and three persons entered--Jacques, Belle-bouche, and Sir Asinus.
CHAPTER V.
IN WHICH SIR ASINUS MAKES AS IGNOMINIOUS RETREAT.
Sir Asinus was apparently in high spirits, and smoothed the nap of his cocked hat with his sleeve--the said sleeve being of Mecklenburg silk--in a way which indicated the summit of felicity.
He seemed to inhale the May morning joyously after his late imprisonment; and he betook himself immediately to paying assiduous court to Miss Belle-bouche, who, the sooth to say, did not seem ill-disposed to get rid of Jacques.
Poor Jacques, therefore, made an unsuccessful attempt to engage Philippa in conversation. This failing--for Philippa was watching Mowbray disappearing toward Williamsburg--the melancholy Jacques made friends with the lap-dog, who at first was propitious, but ended by snapping at his fingers.
"A delightful day, my dear madam," he said to Philippa, once more endeavoring to open an account current of conversation.
Philippa, with bent brows, made no reply.
"The birds are having a charming time, it seems."
Poor Jacques! Philippa is buried in thought, and with her eyes fixed on the receding horseman, does not hear him.
"You seem preoccupied, madam," he said.
"Yes, a charming day, sir," she said, rising; "did you say it was pleasant? I agree with you. If I dared!" she added to herself, "if I only dared! But what do I not dare!"
And she abruptly left the room, to the profound astonishment of Jacques, who sat gazing after her with wide-extended eyes.
"I told you he was in love with her, my dear Miss Belle-bouche, since you say that will in future be your name--it is either with you or Madam Philippa."
These words were uttered in a confidential whisper to Belle-bouche by Sir Asinus, who was leaning forward gracefully in a tall carven-backed chair toward his companion, who reposed luxuriously upon an ottoman covered with damask, and ornamented quoad the legs with satyr heads.
Belle-bouche suffered her glance to follow that of her companion. Jacques was indeed, as we have said, gazing after the lady who had just departed, and for this purpose had opened his eyes to their greatest possible width. He resembled a china mandarin in the costume of Louis Quatorze.
"Am I mistaken?" said Sir Asinus.
Belle-bouche sighed.
"A plain case: he is even now saying to himself, my dear Miss Belle-bouche,
'Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus Jam cari capitis----'
which means, 'How can I make up my mind to see you go up stairs?'"
Belle-bouche cast a tender glance at Jacques. Sir Asinus continued:
"Yes, yes, I see you pity him. But you should pity me."
"Why?"
"Your watch-paper--you remember; the one which you cut for me?"
"Yes."
"Well, last night I placed my watch on my window--before retiring, you know; and in the night," continued Sir Asinus, "it commenced raining----"
"That was last night?"
"Yes, Madam Belle-bouche. Well, the