althoughpartakingsomewhatofvanityandbravado--oneofthosehandsomefellowswhomallwomenagreetoadmire,althoughgravemenlearnedinphysiognomyshrugtheirshouldersatthem.Thisyoungmanworethegarbofacaptainoftheking&39;sunattachedarchers,whichbearsfartoomuchresemblancetothecostumeofJupiter,whichthereaderhasalreadybeenenabledtoadmireinthefirstbookofthishistory,forustoinflictuponhimaseconddescription.Thedamoiselleswereseated,apartinthechamber,apartinthebalcony,someonsquarecushionsofUtrechtvelvetwithgoldencorners,othersonstoolsofoakcarvedinflowersandfigures.Eachofthemheldonherkneeasectionofagreatneedleworktapestry,onwhichtheywereworkingincompany,whileoneendofitlayupontherushmatwhichcoveredthefloor.Theywerechattingtogetherinthatwhisperingtoneandwiththehalf-stifledlaughspeculiartoanassemblyofyounggirlsinwhosemidstthereisayoungman.Theyoungmanwhosepresenceservedtosetinplayallthesefeminineself-conceits,appearedtopayverylittleheedtothematter,and,whiletheseprettydamselswerevyingwithoneanothertoattracthisattention,heseemedtobechieflyabsorbedinpolishingthebuckleofhisswordbeltwithhisdoeskinglove.Fromtimetotime,theoldladyaddressedhiminaverylowtone,andherepliedaswellashewasable,withasortofawkwardandconstrainedpoliteness.FromthesmilesandsignificantgesturesofDameAloise,fromtheglanceswhichshethrewtowardsherdaughter,Fleur-de-Lys,asshespokelowtothecaptain,itwaseasytoseethattherewashereaquestionofsomebetrothalconcluded,somemarriagenearathandnodoubt,betweentheyoungmanandFleur-de-Lys.Fromtheembarrassedcoldnessoftheofficer,itwaseasytoseethatonhisside,atleast,lovehadnolongeranypartinthematter.Hiswholeairwasexpressiveofconstraintandweariness,whichourlieutenantsofthegarrisonwouldto-daytranslateadmirablyas,"Whatabeastlybore!"Thepoordame,verymuchinfatuatedwithherdaughter,likeanyothersillymother,didnotperceivetheofficer&39;slackofenthusiasm,andstroveinlowtonestocallhisattentiontotheinfinitegracewithwhichFleur-de-Lysusedherneedleorwoundherskein."Come,littlecousin,"shesaidtohim,pluckinghimbythesleeve,inordertospeakinhisear,"Lookather,do!seeherstoop.""Yes,truly,"repliedtheyoungman,andfellbackintohisglacialandabsent-mindedsilence.Amomentlater,hewasobligedtobenddownagain,andDameAloisesaidtohim,--
