Belle-bouche had rightly judged that many children should be invited; for if bouquets are bright and pleasant, so are merry childish faces; and so dozens of young maidens, scarcely in their teens, and full of wild delight, ran here and there, playing with each other, and seeking Belle-bouche--kind, loving Belle-bouche--every now and then, to say that something was _so_ pretty, and she was so good! Whereat Belle-bouche would smile, and play with their curls, and they would run and play again. There was this observable fact about the young lady who has appeared so frequently in our little narrative, illustrating its dull pages with her languishing and joyful smiles, showering upon it the tender grace of her fair countenance and innocent eyes--there was this to be observed, we say, that Belle-bouche loved and was beloved by children. She always had them round her when she went where they were, smiling and looking up to her with innocent faces--from the little infantile prattlers just from the nursery, to those who, passing into their bright teens, began to study how they might best fulfil their duty in society--enslave the gallants. All loved Belle-bouche, and on this occasion she had scarcely a moment's rest. Her own companions loved her too, devotedly, and if any one had asked the crowd assembled, what was the brightest picture, the fairest ornament of the whole festival, they would have with one voice declared--the little hostess. Philippa, with her queenly brow and ready laughter, did not receive one-half the devoted attention which was lavished on her companion; and indeed Belle-bouche was the toast of the whole assembly. The finest cavaliers gathered around her and paid her their addresses--all smiled on her, and paid homage to her. Her joy was full. But see the finest gentleman of all approach--the no longer melancholy, the joyful and superb knight of the ribbon-decorated horse! Jacques approached with the air of a captive prince--submissive, yet proud. He smiled. "Beautiful queen of May," he said, trailing his plumed hat upon the floor, "behold your slave. Never did shepherd in the vales of Arcady pay truer homage to his Daphne's charms than I do to those of our hostess!" This was considered a pretty speech, and Belle-bouche was about to reply with a smile, when little Martha Wayles, who was present in a pink-gauze dress and lace, cried: "Oh, my goodness! just look there!" "What is it?" asked the company. "There, through the window," said little Martha, blushing at the attention she excited. "What?" "That horse with ribbons!" The company gazed through the window, and began to laugh. There indeed was the horse of Jacques, splendid in all the colors of the rainbow, pawing and tossing his head as the groom led him away. "A little romance of mine," said Jacques, smiling; "I trust 'tis not considered in bad taste--I had a crook----" "A crook?"