ey gazed at one another.

"Let me get on with my work," she said in a whisper. "I shall never
have it finished."

But just then an instinctive dread prompted her to turn round, and
indeed there lay Jeanne, lowering upon them with deadly pale face and
great inky-black eyes. The child had not made the least movement; her
chin was still buried in the downy pillow, which she clasped with her
little arms. She had only opened her eyes a moment before and was
contemplating them.

"Jeanne, what's the matter?" asked Helene. "Are you ill? do you want
anything?"

The little one made no reply, never stirred, did not even lower the
lids of her great flashing eyes. A sullen gloom was on her brow, and
in her pallid cheeks were deep hollows. She seemed about to throw back
her hands as though a convulsion was imminent. Helene started up,
begging her to speak; but she remained obstinately stiff, darting such
black looks on her mother that the latter's face became purple with
blushes, and she murmured:

"Doctor, see; what is the matter with her?"

Henri had drawn his chair away from Helene's. He ventured near the
bed, and was desirous of taking hold of one of the little hands which
so fiercely gripped the pillow. But as he touched Jeanne she trembled
in every limb, turned with a start towards the wall, and exclaimed:

"Leave me alone; you, I mean! You are hurting me!"

She pulled the coverlet over her face, and for a quarter of an hour
they attempted, without success, to soothe her with gentle words. At
last, as they still persevered, she sat up with her hands clasped in
supplication: "Oh, please leave me alone; you are tormenting me! Leave
me alone!"

Helene, in her bewilderment, once more sat down at the window, but
Henri did not resume his place beside her. They now understood: Jeanne
was devoured by jealousy. They were unable to speak another word. For
a minute or two the doctor paced up and down in silence, and then
slowly quitted the room, well understanding the meaning of the anxious
glances which the mother was darting towards the bed. As soon as he
had gone, she ran to her daughter's side and pressed her passionately
to her breast, with a wild outburst of words.

"Hear me, my pet, I am alone now; look at me, speak to me. Are you in
pain? Have I vexed you then? Tell me everything! Is it I whom you are
angry with? What are you troubled about?"

But it was useless to pray for an answer, useless to plead with all
sorts