of?' The count's tone betrayed such
disagreeable surprise that the superior was dismayed. She looked at me,
and seemed indignant at my more than modest attire. 'It's a shame
to allow a child to leave home dressed in this fashion,' she angrily
exclaimed. And she almost tore my huge apron off me, and then with
her own hands began to arrange my hair as if to display me to better
advantage. 'Ah! these employers,' she exclaimed, 'the best of them are
bad. How they do deceive you. It's impossible to place any confidence in
their promises. Still, one can't always be at their heels.'

"But the superior's efforts were wasted, for M. de Chalusse had turned
away and had begun talking with some gentlemen near by. For the office
was full that morning. Five or six gentlemen, whom I recognized as the
directors of the asylum, were standing round the steward in the black
skullcap. They were evidently talking about me. I was certain of this by
the glances they gave me, glances which, however, were full of kindness.
The superior joined the group and began speaking with unusual vivacity,
while standing in the recess of a window, I listened with all my might.
But I must have overestimated my intelligence, for I could gain no
meaning whatever from the phrases which followed each other in rapid
succession; though the words 'adoption,' 'emancipation,' 'dowry,'
'compensation,' 'reimbursement for sums expended,' recurred again and
again. I was only certain of one point: the Count de Chalusse wished
something, and these gentlemen were specifying other things in exchange.
To each of their demands he answered: 'Yes, yes--it's granted. That's
understood.' But at last he began to grow impatient, and in a voice
which impressed one with the idea that he was accustomed to command, he
exclaimed, 'I will do whatever you wish. Do you desire anything more?'
The gentlemen at once became silent, and the superior hastily declared
that M. de Chalusse was a thousand times too good, but that one could
expect no less of him, the last representative of one of the greatest
and oldest families of France.

"I cannot describe the surprise and indignation that were raging in my
soul. I divined--I felt that it was MY fate, MY future, MY life that
were being decided, and I was not even consulted on the matter. They
were disposing of me as if they were sure in advance of my consent. My
pride revolted at the thought, but I could not find a word to say in
protest. Crimson w