called upon Madelaine, and she said she
thought Marguerite might do something
better than sell flowers at the market. And
then she told how Fauchette was married,
and she wanted somebody to supply her
place, and thought Marguerite would suit
exactly. And Marguerite, though she was
very sorry to leave her mother and Ange,
was yet delighted at the thought of doing
something for herself; for though they were
so happy, they were still very poor. And so
Marguerite went to be Dame Ponsard's little
maid at the Bell, and Madelaine and Ange
found it very triste without her at first,
though they went to see her very often.
Marguerite became the neatest, handiest
little maid possible, and with such a cheerful,
loveable face that everybody was possessed
in her favour.

On Sundays how happy she was to wander
in the woods and by the river with Ange;
and they talked together of the future, and
made such golden plans; and in their plans
they were always together. It seemed quite
impossible now that Madelaine, Marguerite,
and Ange should ever be separated.

And then came a busy time in the town,
for it was the conscription, and some hearts
beat high with hopes of glory, and some
were loth to leave their homes, and mothers'
hearts were anxious. The town was full of
military, and there was Guillaume's brother
Jean, with gay ribbons in his cap, going
about the town to persuade the young men
how happy a soldier's life was, and how
charming it was to travel and see the world
—so much better than remaining all one's
life in this little stupid town.

Jean tried to persuade Ange too, but that
he could not do, for Ange knew what it was
to be without a home; and, besides, he
would not have left Madelaine and
Marguerite of his own free will for any pleasures
that could be offered him.

At this time, too, the château was full of
people, and there were to be very grand
doings there indeed; for the young Count
Isidore was coming of age, and so there
were fêtes and balls and hunts all the day
long; and as it happened that the young
Count's birthday was on the first of May,
the May-day fête was to be held in his
beautiful park. And that morning there was to
be a carol sung under his window, which had
been composed expressly for the occasion,
and Monsieur Freron, the organ-master,
declared that Marguerite should sing the
first part and lead all the rest; and he
taught her how she should raise her little
hand when it was time to begin, so that they
might all sing together, so that the voices
might not come one after another, like birds
flying, as he said.

Dame Ponsard, when she heard what an
important part Marguerite was to play in
the festivities, was particularly anxious
that Marguerite should look particularly
nice; and so she gave her a very handsome
dark blue silk quilted petticoat that had
belonged to Blanche, and lent her some
beautiful old lace for her little cap. And
Ange had been secretly saving up money
little by little, so as to be able to buy
Marguerite a pair of gold ear-rings, and these he
gave her on that morning, so that Marguerite
did indeed look quite a little pearl that
day. She had on clocked stockings and neat
black shoes with high red heels, such as they
used to wear in those days, and such a pretty
chintz boddice and skirt, tucked up so as to
show her quilted petticoat, and a black hood
and cloak, and a dainty little muff, and,
lastly, a beautiful bunch of spring flowers,
which Ange had brought her from the
garden.

And so, on that May morning, when the
dew was still on the grass, and the sun's rays
seemed to cover the whole earth with
diamonds, the little choir took their way to
the old château, and there ranged themselves
under the window of the young lord, to
waken him up that day, with melody.
When they were all grouped lightly
before the window and ready to begin,
Marguerite raised her little hand as a signal for
them all. Then the chorus began; and, last
of all, the young lord himself opened his
window wide, and looked down upon them.
The boys took off their caps, and shouted, the
girls curtsied and waved their handkerchiefs,
and the young Count threw down a number
of bright gold pieces among them, and then
there was a great cry of " Long live Count
Isidore! " and then they went away.

Later in the day there was a beautiful
Maypole, and a band for the dancers. The park
seemed perfectly lighted up with the many
gay dresses and happy faces that were
scattered about it. The trees were in their
freshest green, and the frolicsome wind seemed
to carry the peals of laughter through their
branches, and make them wave and quiver
with pleasure. Then, about mid-day, came
all the guests from the château, beautifully
dressed, and the young lord in the midst of
them, with a beautiful wreath of flowers
in his hand; and the ladies with him were
laughing and talking, and their silk dresses
rustled and gleamed so in the sun, and they
wore high powdered hair, and then such
dainty little different coloured hats to keep
off the sun.

All the girls of the village were bidden
to come forward that the young Count might
see who was most worthy of the crown.
Of each he asked her name, and said some
kind word, and held council of the two
handsome ladies, and sent for Father Mathurin,
and spoke to him. Then, to Marguerite's
great surprise little Rosalie came bounding up
to her where she sat under a tree with Ange,
and said, " Marguerite, Marguerite! you are
to be Queen of the May, and you must
come now, and receive the crown."