Page 43 - Princess Belle-Etoile and Prince Cherie

equally well. She imagined that the attentions
and caresses of Cheri were the cause of it. She
forbade him to seek more opportunities of
pleasing her. "You have already found but too
many," said she to him graciously; "and you
have succeeded in causing me to make a great
difference between our brothers and
yourself." What joy did he not feel at hearing

her speak thus? Far from relaxing in his
assiduities, he redoubled them, and every day
paid her some new and gallant attention.
They were as yet ignorant both of the extent
and of the nature of their affection, when one
day some new books were brought to Belle-
Etoile. She took up the first that came to hand.

It was the history of two young lovers, whose
passion had commenced whilst they
considered themselves brother and sister. They
had afterwards been discovered by their
families, and eventually, after passing through
infinite troubles, espoused each other.
As Cheri read remarkably well, and not only
understood what he read, but had the faculty
of conveying the full sense of it to others, the

Princess requested him to read to her, while
she finished some work in flock-silk which she
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