my services,
declaring in the same breath that they should never be able to replace
me at the same price. Madame Greloux, moreover, declared that she should
never forgive herself for not having sharply reproved her brother for
his abominable conduct. He was a good-for-nothing fellow, she said, as
was proved by the fact that he had dared to raise his eyes to me. For
the first time in my life, I felt that I was sincerely loved; and I was
so deeply touched that if my decision had not been written and signed, I
should certainly have returned to live with these worthy people. But it
was too late. A sister came to tell me that the superior wished to see
me. I bade Father and Mother Greloux farewell and went downstairs.

"In the superior's room, a lady and two shop-girls, laden with boxes and
parcels, were waiting for me. It was a dressmaker who had come with some
clothes suited to my new station in life. I was told that she had
been sent by the Count de Chalusse. This great nobleman thought of
everything; and, although he had thirty servants to do his bidding, he
never disdained to occupy himself with the pettiest details. So, for
the first time, I was arrayed in rustling silk and clinging cashmere.
My toilette was no trifling affair. All the good sisters clustered round
me, and tried to beautify me with the same care and patience as they
would have displayed in adorning the Virgin's statue for a fete-day. A
secret instinct warned me that they were overdoing the matter, and that
they were making me look ridiculous; but I did not mind. I allowed them
to please themselves I could still feel Madame Greloux's tears on my
hand, and the scene seemed to me as lugubrious as the last toilette of a
prisoner under sentence of death. When they had completed their task,
I heard a buzz of admiration round me. If the sisters were worthy of
belief, they had never seen such a wonderful transformation. Those who
were in the class-rooms or the sewing-room, were summoned to view and
admire me, and some of the elder children were also admitted. Perhaps I
was intended as an example for the latter, for I heard the lady superior
say to them, 'You see, my dear children, the result of good behavior. Be
diligent and dutiful, like our dear Marguerite, and God will reward
you as He has rewarded her.' And, meantime, miserable in my finery, I
waited--waited for M. de Chalusse, who was coming to take me away.

"At the appointed hour he appeared, with the sa