During this little episode, the other girl stood by with an evident impulse to laughter, and a sparkle of amusement in her black eyes. At last she started forward with a rapid motion, said something to madame which succeeded better than the remonstrances of Joanna, and addressed Cosmo in her turn. “Madame says,” said the lively little stranger, “that she can not understand your countrymen--they are so grave, so impassionate, so sorrowful, she knows not if they march in _le corétge funêbre_ or go to make the barricades. Madame says there is no music, no shouts, no voice. She demands what the _jeune Monsieur_ thinks of a so grave procession.” “The men are displeased,” said Cosmo, hastily; “they think that the government trifles with them, and they warn it how they feel. They don’t mean to make a riot, or break the peace--we call it a demonstration here.” “A de-mon-stracion!” said the little Frenchwoman; “I shall look for it in my dictionary. They are angry with the king--_eh bien!_--why do not they fight?” “Fight! they could fight the whole world if they liked!” cried Joanna; “but they would scorn to fight for every thing like people that have nothing else to do. Desirée and I wanted to see it, Cosmo, and madame did not know in the least where we were bringing her to--and so we got into the crowd, and I don’t know how to get back to Moray Place, unless you’ll show us the way.” “Madame says,” said the other girl laughing, after receiving another vehement communication from the governess, “that _ce jeune Monsieur_ is to go with us only to Princes Street--then we shall find our own way. He is not to go with you, _belle_ Joanna; and madame demands to know what all the people say.” “What all the people say!--they’re gossiping, and scolding, and speaking about the procession, and about us, and about their own concerns, and about every thing,” said Joanna; “and how can I tell her? Oh, Cosmo, I’ve looked everywhere for you! but you never walk where we walk; and I saw your mother at the church, and I saw Katie Logan, and I told Katie to write you word to come and see me--but everybody teazes us to death about being proper; however, come along, and I’ll tell you all about everybody--wasn’t it grand to see the procession? Papa’s a terrible Tory, and says it’ll destroy the country--so I hope they’ll get it. Are you for the Reform?”