"Yes, wreathed with flowers, as was the custom, I believe, in Arcadia; but I feared it would attract attention in the town, and I left it," said Jacques, with lamblike innocence. This sally was greeted with tumultuous applause. "A crook!" cried the damsels. "An excellent idea!" "So sylvan!" "And so appropriate!" "We may have as many as we fancy, I believe," said Jacques, smiling; "I have prepared a number as an introduction to the festival: they are in the garden, ladies, already wreathed with flowers!" The company rose in a mass to go and get them, and soon they were in the garden; then scattered over the lawn; then every where, laughing, making merry, and behaving like a crowd of children released from school. The damsels acted shepherdesses to perfection, and closely resembled the pictures we are accustomed to see upon the fans which ladies use even to the present day. Their little airs of sylvan simplicity were very pretty; and the gallant gentlemen were not backward in their part. They bowed and simpered until they resembled so many supple-jacks, pulled by the finger of a child. "Look," said Jacques to Belle-bouche, and sighing slightly as he gazed upon the fresh beauty of her face; "see those lovers yonder----" "Lovers?" said Belle-bouche, smiling. "I am not mistaken, I think," said Jacques; "yes, yes, my queen, they are lovers. Do you not think that something like that which I spoke of formerly will come to pass?" Belle-bouche, with a delicious little rose-color brightening her cheek, replied, patting her satin-sandalled foot upon the flowery sward: "Which you spoke of--pray, what did you speak of?" "Of my wish to be a shepherd----" "Ah--a shepherd," said Belle-bouche, removing a cherry blossom from her hair, and smiling. "Yes, my lovely queen," said Jacques, with great readiness; "I wished to be a shepherd and have a crook----" "Oh, sir!" "And that my Arcadian love should also have one and draw me--so that passing through the fields----" "Oh, yes----" "I might kiss her hand----" "Yes, yes----" "And passing through the forests wrap her in my cloak----" Belle-bouche laughed. "And crossing the streams on narrow moss-clad logs, support her with my arm--as the dearest and most blessed treasure upon earth!" cried Jacques, seizing the hand of Belle-bouche, which hung down, and enraptured that she did not withdraw it. Belle-bouche understood perfectly that Jacques referred to their meeting on that day when she had been reading in the forest, and had fled from him across the stream. Her roseate blush betrayed her. "If only that bright dream of love could be a reality for me!" he whispered; "if one I love so----" "Oh, Miss Bel! the girls sent for you--the pyramid is ready!" cried the merry voice of little Martha. And running toward Belle-bouche, the girl told her that they really must have her in the garden "before the procession commenced." Poor Jacques drew back groaning.