eur girls sob with grief.

"Would you like to play at _pigeon vole_?" asked Pauline, who seemed
to have lost her head with the thought of her impending marriage.
"That wouldn't tire you."

But Jeanne shook her head in refusal. Beneath their drooping lids her
eyes wandered over the persons who surrounded her. The doctor had just
informed Monsieur Rambaud that admission to the Hospital for
Incurables had been secured for his _protegee_, and in a burst of
emotion the worthy man clasped his hands as though some great personal
favor had been conferred on him. They were all lounging on their
chairs, and the conversation became delightfully friendly. Less effort
was shown in following up remarks, and there were at times intervals
of silence. While Madame Deberle and her sister were busily engaged in
discussion, Helene said to the two men:

"Doctor Bodin has advised us to go to Italy."

"Ah! that is why Jeanne was questioning me!" exclaimed Monsieur
Rambaud. "Would it give you any pleasure to go away there?"

Without vouchsafing any answer, the child clasped her little hands
upon her bosom, while her pale face flushed with joy. Then,
stealthily, and with some fear, she looked towards the doctor; it was
he, she understood it, whom her mother was consulting. He started
slightly, but retained all his composure. Suddenly, however, Juliette
joined in the conversation, wishing, as usual, to have her finger in
every pie.

"What's that? Are you talking about Italy? Didn't you say you had an
idea of going to Italy? Well, it's a droll coincidence! Why, this very
morning, I was teasing Henri to take me to Naples! Just fancy, for ten
years now I have been dreaming of seeing Naples! Every spring he
promises to take me there, but he never keeps his word!"

"I didn't tell you that I would not go," murmured the doctor.

"What! you didn't tell me? Why, you refused flatly, with the excuse
that you could not leave your patients!"

Jeanne was listening eagerly. A deep wrinkle now furrowed her pale
brow, and she began twisting her fingers mechanically one after the
other.

"Oh! I could entrust my patients for a few weeks to the care of a
brother-physician," explained the doctor. "That's to say, if I thought
it would give you so much pleasure--"

"Doctor," interrupted Helene, "are you also of opinion that such a
journey would benefit Jeanne?"

"It would be the very thing; it would thoroughly restore her to
health. Children are always