SCENES VII. AND VIII

The corresponding member of the academy was once sent to a town in the country to make researches about the présence of a Roman camp and to gather inscriptions. There he saw a charming girl for whom he conceived a strong attachment. He returned to Paris, but from the time he had seen her, her image troubled his dreams and filled his life and heart. He began to write songs about her, and at last he recognised that the happiness of ail his life depended on her,

So he wrote to her father and made him an ofifer of marriage, which was a great surprise to him. He replied that although his daughter was pretty and well-bred, and would hâve a dowry of almost 130,000 francs, he must be frank and make a confession. She had one misérable fault, she could not spell. This was too much for the Academician. He was frightened and said nothing more about the matter. The young lady's father suspected that she loved a young man of the neighbourhood, and as he was steady and affectionate, he decided to accept him for his daughter's hand.

EXEKCISES FOR COMPOSITION. 85