Page:Teleny, or The Reverse of the Medal, t. I.djvu/71

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63

"And——"

"Everyone was at the carriage windows laughing at my misadventure.

"A few days afterwards I was with my parents at the Pension Bellevue, at the baths of N——, when, on going down to the table d'hôte dinner, I was surprised to find the young lady in question seated with her mother, almost opposite to the place usually occupied by my parents. Upon seeing her, I, of course, blushed scarlet, I sat down, and she and the elderly lady exchanged glances and smiled. I wriggled on my chair in a most uncomfortable way, and I dropped the spoon which I had taken up.

"'What is the matter with you, Camille?' asked my mother, seeing me grow red and pale.

"'Oh, nothing! Only I—I—that is to say, my—my stomach is rather out of order,' said I, in a whisper, finding no better excuse on the spur of the moment.

"'Your stomach again?' said my mother, in an under-tone.

"'What, Camille! have you the belly-ache?' said my father, in his off-hand way, and with his