you again easily, which I hardly do. How you are changed--for the
better, I should say, since you left off conventual cap and
costume!" Amelie could not but look admiringly on the beauty of the
radiant girl. "How handsome you have grown! but you were always
that. We both took the crown of honor together, but you would alone
take the crown of beauty, Angelique." Amelie stood off a pace or
two, and looked at her friend from head to foot with honest
admiration, "and would deserve to wear it too," added she.

"I like to hear you say that, Amelie; I should prefer the crown of
beauty to all other crowns! You half smile at that, but I must tell
the truth, if you do. But you were always a truth-teller, you know,
in the convent, and I was not so! Let us cease flatteries."

Angelique felt highly flattered by the praise of Amelie, whom she
had sometimes condescended to envy for her graceful figure and
lovely, expressive features.

"Gentlemen often speak as you do, Amelie," continued she, "but,
pshaw! they cannot judge as girls do, you know. But do you really
think me beautiful? and how beautiful? Compare me to some one we
know."

"I can only compare you to yourself, Angelique. You are more
beautiful than any one I know," Amelie burst out in frank
enthusiasm.

"But, really and truly, do you think me beautiful, not only in your
eyes, but in the judgment of the world?"