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would like to know who left the purse。
〃Oh； yes； yes！〃 screamed Rose。
〃Then come with me。 You ARE dressed； never mind your bonnets； or you will be too late。〃
Questions poured on her； but she waived all explanation； and did not give them time to think； or Josephine； for one； she knew would raise objections。 She led the way to the Pleasaunce； and； when she got to the ancestral oak； she said hurriedly； 〃Now； mesdemoiselles； hide in there； and as still as mice。 You'll soon know who leaves the purses。〃
With this she scudded to the lane； and gave Edouard the key。 〃Look sharp；〃 said she； 〃before they get up； it's almost their dressing time。〃
〃YOU'LL SOON KNOW WHO LEAVES THE PURSES！〃
Curiosity； delicious curiosity； thrilled our two daughters of Eve。
This soon began to alternate with chill misgivings at the novelty of the situation。
〃She is not coming back；〃 said Josephine ruefully。
〃No；〃 said Rose； 〃and suppose when we pounce out on him； it should be a stranger。〃
〃Pounce on him？ surely we are not to do that？〃
〃Oh； y…yes； that is the p…p…programme；〃 quavered Rose。
A key grated； and the iron gate creaked on its hinges。 They ran together and pinched one another for mutual support； but did not dare to speak。
Presently a man's shadow came slap into the tree。 They crouched and quivered； and expected to be caught instead of catching； and wished themselves safe back in bed； and all this a nightmare； and no worse。
At last they recovered themselves enough to observe that this shadow； one half of which lay on the ground； while the head and shoulders went a little way up the wall of the tree； represented a man's profile； not his front face。 The figure； in short； was standing between them and the sun； and was contemplating the chateau； not the tree。
The shadow took off its hat to Josephine； in the tree。 Then would she have screamed if she had not bitten her white hand instead； and made a red mark thereon。
It wiped its brow with a handkerchief； it had walked fast； poor thing！ The next moment it was away。
They looked at one another and panted。 They scarcely dared do it before。 Then Rose； with one hand on her heaving bosom； shook her little white fist viciously at where the figure must be； and perhaps a comical desire of vengeance stimulated her curiosity。 She now glided through the fissure like a cautious panther from her den； and noiseless and supple as a serpent began to wind slowly round the tree。 She soon came to a great protuberance in the tree； and twining and peering round it with diamond eye； she saw a very young； very handsome gentleman； stealing on tiptoe to the nearest flower… bed。 Then she saw him take a purse out of his bosom； and drop it on the bed。 This done； he came slowly past the tree again； and was even heard to vent a little innocent chuckle of intense satisfaction： but of brief duration； for； when Rose saw the purse leave his hand； she made a rapid signal to Josephine to wheel round the other side of the tree； and； starting together with admirable concert； both the daughters of Beaurepaire glided into sight with a vast appearance of composure。
Two women together are really braver than fifteen separate； but still； most of this tranquillity was merely put on； but so admirably that Edouard Riviere had no chance with them。 He knew nothing about their tremors； all he saw or heard was； a rustle； then a flap on each side of him as of great wings； and two lovely women were upon him with angelic swiftness。 〃Ah！〃 he cried out with a start； and glanced from the first…comer； Rose； to the gate。 But Josephine was on that side by this time； and put up her hand； as much as to say； 〃You can't pass here。〃 In such situations； the mind works quicker than lightning。 He took off his hat； and stammered an excuse〃Come to look at the oak。〃 At this moment Rose pounced on the purse； and held it up to Josephine。 He was caught。 His only chance now was to bolt for the mark and run； but it was not the notary； it was a novice who lost his presence of mind； or perhaps thought it rude to run when a lady told him to stand still。 All he did was to crush his face into his two hands； round which his cheeks and neck now blushed red as blood。 Blush？ they could both see the color rush like a wave to the very roots of his hair and the tips of his fingers。
The moment our heroines； who； in that desperation which is one of the forms of cowardice； had hurled themselves on the foe； saw this； flashthe quick…witted poltroons exchanged purple lightning over Edouard's drooping head； and enacted lionesses in a moment。
It was with the quiet composure of lofty and powerful natures that Josephine opened on him。 〃Compose yourself； sir； and be so good as to tell us who you are。〃 Edouard must answer。 Now he could not speak through his hands； and he could not face a brace of tranquil lionesses： so he took a middle course； removed one hand； and shading himself from Josephine with the other； he gasped out； 〃I ammy name is Riviere； and IIladies！〃
〃I am afraid we frighten you；〃 said Josephine； demurely。
〃Don't be frightened；〃 said Rose； majestically； 〃we are not VERY angry； only a LITTLE curious to know why you water our flowers with gold。〃
At this point…blank thrust； and from her； Edouard was so confounded and distressed； they both began to pity him。 He stammered out that he was so confused he did not know what to say。 He couldn't think how ever he could have taken such a liberty； might he be permitted to retire？ and with this he tried to slip away。
〃Let me detain you one instant；〃 said Josephine； and made for the house。
Left alone so suddenly with the culprit； the dignity； and majesty； and valor of Rose seemed to ooze gently out； and she stood blushing； and had not a word to say； no more had Edouard。 But he hung his head； and she hung her head。 And； somehow or other； whenever she raised her eyes to glance at him； he raised his to steal a look at her； and mutual discomfiture resulted。
This awkward； embarrassing delirium was interrupted by Josephine's return。 She now held another purse in her hand； and quietly poured the rest of the coin into it。 She then； with a blush； requested him to take back the money。
At that he found his tongue。 〃No； no；〃 he cried； and put up his hands in supplication。 〃Ladies； do let me speak ONE word to you。 Do not reject my friendship。 You are alone in the world； your father is dead； your mother has but you to lean on。 After all； I am your neighbor； and neighbors should be friends。 And I am your debtor； I owe you more than you could ever owe me； for ever since I came into this neighborhood I have been happy。 No man was ever so happy as I； ever since one day I was walking； and met for the first time an angel。 I don't say it was you； Mademoiselle Rose。 It might be Mademoiselle Josephine。〃
〃How pat he has got our names；〃 said Rose； smiling。
〃A look from that angel has made me so good； so happy。 I used to vegetate； but now I live。 Live！ I walk on wings； and tread on roses。 Yet you insist on declining a few miserable louis d'or from him who owes you so much。 Well； don't be angry； I'll take them back； and throw them into the nearest pond； fo