Urbain needed not the temptation of so sweet a recompense. However, he wished immediately to deserve it. He sang, and Blanche listened with rapture; the young man, yielding to the emotion of his heart, sang with much expression and feeling, but his voice no longer resembled that of a woman, and any other than the ingenuous Blanche would have perceived the change; but the latter was far from suspecting the truth, and with her head turned towards Urbain, remained motionless, her eyes fixed on him and seeming to fear lest she should lose a word, while she exclaimed from time to time,-- "Mon Dieu, that is it! that's the same thing! That affects me just as it did the other night. Ah, Ursule, sing again." However, the songs ceased, for Urbain had not forgotten the promised recompense. For some moments Blanche remained motionless, seeming to be listening still; at last she aroused herself from her ecstasies, saying,-- "It's very singular what a strange effect that romance has upon me." "Is it disagreeable?" "Oh, no; if it were I should not want to be always hearing it, and still it makes me feel rather sad; it makes me sigh; but all the same, Ursule, you will teach it to me, will you not?" "Yes, mademoiselle; but you promised me--" "To kiss you. Oh, I'll do that willingly." Without further asking, Blanche imprinted her cherry lips on Urbain's burning cheek. This time the latter was about to return her kiss, and had already taken the young girl in his arms when Marguerite, in sneezing, just missed falling into the fire, and awoke herself with a start, crying,-- "Dear good patron saint, save me; I see the black man and the sorcerer of Verberie." "Where is he, dear nurse?" said Blanche, leaving Urbain, who was vexed that he had not sooner finished his singing. "Where?" said Marguerite, rubbing her eyes; "where is what? What did I say?" "You said you saw the sorcerer." "Ah, that is because I was thinking of him, apparently. Come, Ursule, it is time for you to go, my child." "That's a pity, I was going to tell you of an adventure which happened to my aunt which was even more marvellous than the others." "Oh, that's delightful; that will be for tomorrow," said Blanche. "That will suit you, dear nurse, won't it? You see my good friend suspects nothing; besides, if he should see Ursule and be angry, well, I'll take all the blame on myself and I can pacify him." "Come, then, tomorrow night, and we will learn all about your aunt's adventures." "Yes, Mademoiselle Marguerite, but will you have the goodness to give me back my talisman." "Yes, my dear child, that's right. O my God! what have I done with it? Has Satan tricked me out of it? I was holding it just this minute." "Wait, dear nurse, here it is," pointing to the hearth, "you have let it fall in the cinders." "Faith, so I did," answered the old woman, picking up the little scrap of cloth. "Oh, my goodness! it's a little scorched."