"But never with anyone that I shall esteem or respect so much, be they who they may," replied Lionel. During dinner, I mentioned that Mr Selwyn had called and engaged Caroline and me to go to the Horticultural fete. "I wish Madame Gironac was going," continued I, "she is so fond of flowers." "Never mind, my dear Valerie, I will stay at home and earn some money." "Madame," cried Monsieur Gironac, pretending to be very angry, and striking with his fist on the table so as to make all the wine glasses ring, "you shall do no such thing. You shall not always oppose my wishes. You shall not stay at home and earn some money. You shall go out and spend money. Yes, madame, I will be obeyed; you shall go to the Horticultural fete, and I invite Monsieur Lionel, and Mademoiselle Adele to come with us that they may witness that I am the master. Yes, madame, resistance is useless. You shall go in a _remise de ver_, or glass-coach, as round as a pumpkin, but you shall not go in glass slippers, like Cinderella, because they are not pleasant to walk in. How Cinderella danced in them has always been a puzzle to me, ever since I was a child, and of what kind of glass they were made of." "Perhaps isinglass," said Lionel. "No, sir, not isinglass; it must have been fairy glass; but never mind. I ask you, Madame Gironac, whether you intend to be an obedient wife, or intend to resist my commands?" "_Barbare_," replied Madame Gironac, "am I then to be forced to go to a fete! ah, cruel man, you'll break my heart; but I submit to my unhappy destiny. Yes, I will go in the _remise de ver_: pity me, my good friends, but you don't know that man." "I am satisfied with your obedience, madame, and now I permit you to embrace me." Madame Gironac, who was delighted at the idea of going to the fete, ran to her husband, and kissed him over and over again. Adele and Lionel accepted Monsieur Gironac's invitation, and thus was the affair settled in Monsieur Gironac's queer way. The day of the Horticultural fete arrived. It was a lovely morning. We were all dressed and the glass-coach was at the door, when Mr Selwyn arrived in his carriage, and Caroline and I stepped in. I introduced Caroline, who was remarkably well-dressed, and very pretty. Mr Selwyn had before told me that he was acquainted with Madame Bathurst, having met her two or three times, and sat by her at a dinner-party. He appeared much pleased with Caroline, but could not make out how she was in my company. Of course, he asked no questions before her.