SCENES VII. AND VIH

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. ^60 he wrote to her father and made him an offer 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 Academiciaij^ He was frightened and said nothing more about the matter. Tne * 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.

Exercises for Composition. 85

scenes ix., x., and xl

One morning when Blanche was going to market, she met one of her neighbours, who asked her to dinner that evening. She said that she had been thinking of getting married for a long time, and that now a good match had turned up, whom she had accepted. The dinner was to celebrate the occasion,

''when Blanche was returning home, she saw an old woman sitting under an apricot-tree. Her hat was full of holes and she was poorly dressed. She had matches to sell, but she seemed to be embarrassed and to feel some reluctance in asking anyone to buy. Blanche spoke to her and gave her some pennies.^

On reaching home she found her father in great joy. He was digging in his garden and was ail in a perspiration, when a dealer in old iron came along and sold him an old Roman shield and sword, which he had. Blanche told him about the invitation, and as the family was an important and infiuential one, it was agreed that they should go. In the evening, after Blanche had dressed, they took the carriage and set out.

On their arrivai they found the guests assembled, and in great excitement. Some one had circulated a report that the young man had killed his rival. It was quite false, and some of his friends thought that he should reply to such an insuit only by silence and contempt, but the young man preferred to hâve a certificate saying that his rival had died before he saw him. Without this, he said that his réputation would be ruined and he should be obliged to leave the country. So some one sat down at the table and scrawled ofF a few lines to that effect. He had a bad pen, and made a great many blots ; but the young man said that with such a paper he would be quite easy.