ch as you dare not question.

But Madame Deberle stepped closer to them, and said: "I hope we shall
see each other frequently now. As Jeanne is feeling better, she must
come down every afternoon."

Helene was already casting about for an excuse, pleading that she did
not wish to weary her too much. But Jeanne abruptly broke in: "No, no;
the sun does me a great deal of good. We will come down, madame. You
will keep my place for me, won't you?"

And as the doctor still remained in the background, she smiled towards
him.

"Doctor, please tell mamma that the fresh air won't do me any harm."

He came forward, and this man, inured to human suffering, felt on his
cheeks a slight flush at being thus gently addressed by the child.

"Certainly not," he exclaimed; "the fresh air will only bring you
nearer to good health."

"So you see, mother darling, we must come down," said Jeanne, with a
look of ineffable tenderness, whilst a sob died away in her throat.

But Pierre had reappeared on the steps and announced the safe arrival
of madame's seventeen packages. Then, followed by her husband and
Lucien, Juliette retired, declaring that she was frightfully dirty,
and intended to take a bath. When they were alone, Helene knelt down
on the rug, as though about to tie the shawl round Jeanne's neck, and
whispered in the child's ear:

"You're not angry any longer with the doctor, then?"

With a prolonged shake of the head the child replied "No, mamma."

There was a silence. Helene's hands were seized with an awkward
trembling, and she was seemingly unable to tie the shawl. Then Jeanne
murmured: "But why does he love other people so? I won't have him love
them like that."

And as she spoke, her black eyes became harsh and gloomy, while her
little hands fondled her mother's shoulders. Helene would have
replied, but the words springing to her lips frightened her. The sun
was now low, and mother and daughter took their departure. Zephyrin
meanwhile had reappeared to view, with a bunch of parsley in his hand,
the stalks of which he continued pulling off while darting murderous
glances at Rosalie. The maid followed at some distance, inspired with
distrust now that there was no one present. Just as she stooped to
roll up the rug he tried to pinch her, but she retaliated with a blow
from her fist which made his back re-echo like an empty cask. Still it
seemed to delight him, and he was yet laughing silently when he
re-entered the kit