to no more; indignation and
distrust led her to imagine that all of them--the Abbe, Doctor Bodin,
Jeanne herself--were plotting to separate her from Henri. When the old
doctor noticed the pallor of her cheeks, he imagined that he had not
spoken so cautiously as he might have done, and hastened to declare
that there was no hurry, albeit he silently resolved to return to the
subject at another time.

It happened that Madame Deberle intended to stop at home that day. As
soon as the doctor had gone Helene hastened to put on her bonnet.
Jeanne, however, refused to quit the house; she felt better beside the
fire; she would be very good, and would not open the window. For some
time past she had not teased her mother to be allowed to go with her;
still she gazed after her as she went out with a longing look. Then,
when she found herself alone, she shrunk into her chair and sat for
hours motionless.

"Mamma, is Italy far away?" she asked as Helene glided towards her to
kiss her.

"Oh! very far away, my pet!"

Jeanne clung round her neck, and not letting her rise again at the
moment, whispered: "Well, Rosalie could take care of everything here.
We should have no need of her. A small travelling-trunk would do for
us, you know! Oh! it would be delightful, mother dear! Nobody but us
two! I should come back quite plump--like this!"

She puffed out her cheeks and pictured how stout her arms would be.
Helene's answer was that she would see; and then she ran off with a
final injunction to Rosalie to take good care of mademoiselle.

The child coiled herself up in the chimney-corner, gazing at the ruddy
fire and deep in reverie. From time to time she moved her hands
forward mechanically to warm them. The glinting of the flames dazzled
her large eyes. So absorbed was she in her dreaming that she did not
hear Monsieur Rambaud enter the room. His visits had now become very
frequent; he came, he would say, in the interests of the poor
paralytic woman for whom Doctor Deberle had not yet been able to
secure admission into the Hospital for Incurables. Finding Jeanne
alone, he took a seat on the other side of the fireplace, and chatted
with her as though she were a grown-up person. It was most
regrettable; the poor woman had been waiting a week; however, he would
go down presently to see the doctor, who might perhaps give him an
answer. Meanwhile he did not stir.

"Why hasn't your mother taken you with her?" he asked.

Jeanne shrugged