CHAPTER XXXIII. M. PAUL KEEPS HIS PROMISE.

OnthefirstofMay,wehadall—i.e.thetwentyboardersandthefourteachers—noticetoriseatfiveo’clockofthemorning,tobedressedandreadybysix,toputourselvesunderthecommandofM.leProfesseurEmanuel,whowastoheadourmarchforthfromVillette,foritwasonthisdayheproposedtofulfilhispromiseoftakingustobreakfastinthecountry.I,indeed,asthereadermayperhapsremember,hadnothadthehonourofaninvitationwhenthisexcursionwasfirstprojected—ratherthecontrarybutonmynowmakingallusiontothisfact,andwishingtoknowhowitwastobe,myearreceivedapull,ofwhichIdidnotventuretochallengetherepetitionbyraising,furtherdifficulties. “Jevousconseilledevousfaireprier,”saidM.Emanuel,imperiallymenacingtheotherear.OneNapoleoniccompliment,however,wasenough,soImadeupmymindtobeoftheparty. Themorningbrokecalmassummer,withsingingofbirdsinthegarden,andalightdew-mistthatpromisedheat.Weallsaiditwouldbewarm,andweallfeltpleasureinfoldingawayheavygarments,andinassumingtheattiresuitingasunnyseason.Thecleanfreshprintdress,andthelightstrawbonnet,eachmadeandtrimmedastheFrenchworkwomanalonecanmakeandtrim,soastounitetheutterlyunpretendingwiththeperfectlybecoming,wastheruleofcostume.Nobodyflauntedinfadedsilknobodyworeasecond-handbestarticle. Atsixthebellrangmerrily,andwepoureddownthestaircase,throughthecarré,alongthecorridor,intothevestibule.TherestoodourProfessor,wearing,nothissavage-lookingpalet?tandseverebonnet-grec,butayoung-lookingbeltedblouseandcheerfulstrawhat.Hehadforusallthekindestgood-morrow,andmostofusforhimhadathanksgivingsmile.Weweremarshalledinorderandsoonstarted. Thestreetswereyetquiet,andtheboulevardswerefreshandpeacefulasfields.Ibelievewewereveryhappyaswewalkedalong.Thischiefofourshadthesecretofgivingacertainimpetustohappinesswhenhewouldjustas,inanoppositemood,hecouldgiveathrilltofear. Hedidnotleadnorfollowus,butwalkedalongtheline,givingawordtoeveryone,talkingmuchtohisfavourites,andnotwhollyneglectingeventhosehedisliked.Itwasrathermywish,forareasonIhad,tokeepslightlyalooffromnotice,andbeingpairedwithGinevraFanshawe,bearingonmyarmthedearpressureofthatangel’snotunsubstantiallimb—(shecontinuedinexcellentcase,andIcanassurethereaderitwasnotriflingbusinesstobeartheburdenofherlovelinessmanyatimeinthecourseofthatwarmdayIwishedtogoodnesstherehadbeenlessofthecharmingcommodity)—however,havingher,asIsaid,ItriedtomakeherusefulbyinterposingheralwaysbetweenmyselfandM.Paul,shiftingmyplace,accordingasIheardhimcominguptotherighthandortheleft.MyprivatemotiveforthismanoeuvremightbetracedtothecircumstanceofthenewprintdressIwore,beingpinkincolour—afactwhich,underourpresentconvoy,mademefeelsomethingasIhavefelt,when,cladinashawlwitharedborder,necessitatedtotraverseameadowwherepasturedabull. Forawhile,theshiftingsystem,togetherwithsomemodificationsinthearrangementofablacksilkscarf,answeredmypurposebut,by-and-by,hefoundout,thatwhetherhecametothissideortothat,MissFanshawewasstillhisneighbour.ThecourseofacquaintancebetweenGinevraandhimhadneverrunsosmooththathistemperdidnotundergoa