d.

"It's for his work," she continued in a drawling voice; "he says it's
for his work. We have no doorkeeper, you know, and that pleases him.
Oh! my gentleman doesn't like doorkeepers, and he is quite right,
too!"

Once more she came to a halt, as though an idea had suddenly occurred
to her.

"Why, wait a minute; you must know him--of course you must. He visits
one of your lady friends!"

"Ah!" exclaimed Helene, with colorless face.

"Yes, to be sure; the lady who lives close by--the one who used to go
with you to church. She came the other day."

Mother Fetu's eyes contracted, and from under the lids she took note
of her benefactress's emotion. But Helene strove to question her in a
tone that would not betray her agitation.

"Did she go up?"

"No, she altered her mind; perhaps she had forgotten something. But I
was at the door. She asked for Monsieur Vincent, and then got back
into her cab again, calling to the driver to return home, as it was
too late. Oh! she's such a nice, lively, and respectable lady. The
gracious God doesn't send many such into the world. Why, with the
exception of yourself, she's the best--well, well, may Heaven bless
you all!"

In this way Mother Fetu rambled on with the pious glibness of a
devotee who is perpetually telling her beads. But the twitching of the
myriad wrinkles of her face showed that her mind was still working,
and soon she beamed with intense satisfaction.

"Ah!" she all at once resumed in inconsequent fashion, "how I should
like to have a pair of good shoes! My gentleman has been so very kind,
I can't ask him for anything more. You see I'm dressed; still I must
get a pair of good shoes. Look at those I have; they are all holes;
and when the weather's muddy, as it is to-day, one's apt to get very
ill. Yes, I was down with colic yesterday; I was writhing all the
afternoon, but if I had a pair of good shoes--"

"I'll bring you a pair, Mother Fetu," said Helene, waving her towards
the door.

Then, as the old woman retired backwards, with profuse curtseying and
thanks, she asked her: "At what hour are you alone?"

"My gentleman is never there after six o'clock," she answered. "But
don't give yourself the trouble; I'll come myself, and get them from
your doorkeeper. But you can do as you please. You are an angel from
heaven. God on high will requite you for all your kindness!"

When she had reached the landing she could still be heard giving vent
to her feelings.