I shall also keep Gervais and Claire. But you may take all the
others if you like, and your father shall lead the way."
Rose, however, still merrily laughing, clung to her plan. "No, no, mamma,
you must come as well; everybody must come; it was promised. Ambroise and
Andree, you see, are like a royal couple from a neighboring kingdom. My
brother Ambroise, having won the hand of a foreign princess, is going to
present her to us. And so, to do them the honors of our own empire, we,
Frederic and I, must go to meet them, attended by the whole Court. You
form the Court and you cannot do otherwise than come. Ah what a fine
sight it will be when we spread out through the country on our way home
again!"
Marianne, amused by her daughter's overflowing gayety, ended by laughing
and giving way.
"This will be the order of the march," resumed Rose. "Oh! I've planned
everything, as you will see! As for Frederic and myself, we shall go on
our bicycles--that is the most modern style. We will also take my maids
of honor, my little sisters Louise, Madeleine, and Marguerite, eleven,
nine, and seven years old, on their bicycles. They will look very well
behind me.
Pages:
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484