"Yes; and the shepherd's life is certainly the happiest. Ah! to love and be loved under the skies--in Arcady! But Arcady is everywhere when the true heart is near. To love and be loved!" says Jacques with a sad sigh; "to know there is one near you whose whole heart is yours--whose bosom would willingly support the weary head; to have a heart to bring all your sorrows to; to feel that the sky was brighter, and all the stars more friendly and serene, if she were by you; to love and love, and never change, and live a life of happy dreams, however active it might be, when the dear image swept across the horizon! To give the heart and mind out in a sigh, and seal the vow of faith and truth upon loving lips! In a word--one word speaks it all--to love! Yes, yes! to love! To feel the horizon expand around you till it seems to embrace every thing; to love innocently, purely, under the holy heavens; to love till the dying hour, and then, clasped in a pure embrace, to go away together to another world!--Only to love!" And Jacques raises his eyes to the blushing face of Belle-bouche. "Is it not fair to think of?" he says sadly. She tries to smile, and can only murmur, "Yes." "I fear it is but a dream," says Jacques. She does not reply: she wishes a moment to collect her thoughts and regain her calmness. "A dream," he continues, "which many poor fellows dream, and live in, and make a reality of--alas! never to be realized." "Perhaps the world has changed since the old Arcadian days," murmurs Belle-bouche, gazing down with rosy cheeks, and a bad attempt at ease. "You know the earth has become different." "Yes, yes," sighs Jacques; "I very much fear all this is folly." "Who knows but----" She pauses. Jacques raises his eyes, and their glances meet. She stops abruptly, and looks away. It is not affectation in her. That deep blush is wholly irrepressible. Jacques seizes her hand, and says: "Give me the assurance that such things can be! Tell me that this dream could be realized!" She turns away. "Tell me!" he continues, bending toward her, "tell me, if _I_ were to love any one thus--say it were yourself--tell me, beautiful Belle-bouche! could I hope----" "Oh, sir! I cannot now----" "Belle-bouche! dearest Belle-bouche!--my picture was a reality--I love as I have painted--and upon my knees----" "----car chantez, Belle bouche rechignez," sang the voice of Sir Asinus, entering from the garden; and our unfortunate friend Jacques had just time to drop Belle-bouche's hand, when Sir Asinus entered. "You're a pretty fellow!" said that worthy, "to frighten me, and make me believe you were the--Well; let us keep up appearances before the ladies. How goes it, my dear Jacques?" Jacques does not answer; he feels an unchristian desire to exterminate his friend Sir Asinus from the face of the earth--to blot that gentleman forcibly from the sum of things.