"And another time, on the morning just before the ball," said Aline, returning to the story, "they had seen each other again. That was at the slave-auction¹. That night, before the ball was over, she and grandpère understood--knew, each, from the other, why the other was at that auction; and he had promised her to find Mingo.  
"Well, after weeks, Ovide helping², all at once there was Mingo, in the gang, by the block, waiting his turn to go on it. Picture that! Any time I want to shut my eyes I can see it, and I think you can do the same, h'm?"
 
Blessed h'm; 'twas the flower--of the Chapdelaines--humming back to the bee. Said the bee, "We'll try it there together some day, h'm?" and Cupid mutely³ sparkled⁴:
 
"Oh, by all means! the three of us!"
 
The flower ignored them both. "There was the auctioneer," she said; "there were the slaves, there the crowd of bidders⁵; between them the block, above them the beautiful dome⁶. Very soon Mingo was on the block, and the first bid was from Sidney. She was the only one in a hurry except Mingo. He was trying to see her, but she was hiding from him behind grandpère; yet not from the auctioneer. The auctioneer stopped.
 
"'Who authorized⁷ you to bid here?' he asked her.
 
"'Nobody, sir; I's free.' She held up her paper.
 
"Grandpère nodded to the auctioneer.
 
"'Will Mr. Chapdelaine please read it out?'
 
"He rea............