All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

252 ALL IX A GARDEN FAIR.
through tlie respectable parents. But he waited
in vain. The respectable parents did not appear
at all. Nor did the young men speak to him.
He then remembered that the marriage customs
of the Englisli in some respects difler from those
of France. Therefore he sat outside, so to
speak, and watched.
He observed tliat Olinthus called twice a
week, regularly ;
that he evidently wished this
regularity to be marked as meaning intentions
that he always brought something, such as
gloves, fruit, neckties, or flowers ; that he laid
his gifts upon tlie table without a "word and
presently departed after a few attempts at
speech ; also that Claire gathered up the gifts
with a careless hand and tossed them aside Avlien
he was gone.
lie perceived, next, tliat Allen and Will
were rapidly approaching that stage at which
jealousy begins. It was quite customary for
them to meet at the Cottage, but now they
came every night ; sometimes they came to-
gether, but often separately.