gather some daisies in the moat of
the fortifications and place them on her tomb. Then, however, she
lapsed into silence frightened by the gesture with which Helene cut
her short. Was it possible, she thought, that she could no longer find
the right thing to say? Her good lady did not weep, and only gave her
a twenty-sou piece.

Monsieur Rambaud, meanwhile, had walked towards them from the parapet
of the terrace. Helene hastened to rejoin him. At the sight of the
gentleman Mother Fetu's eyes began to sparkle. He was unknown to her;
he must be a new-comer. Dragging her feet along, she followed Helene,
invoking every blessing of Heaven on her head; and when she had crept
close to Monsieur Rambaud, she again spoke of the doctor. Ah! his
would be a magnificent funeral when he died, were the poor people whom
he had attended for nothing to follow his corpse! He was rather fickle
in his loves--nobody could deny that. There were ladies in Passy who
knew him well. But all that didn't prevent him from worshipping his
wife--such a pretty lady, who, had she wished, might have easily gone
wrong, but had given up such ideas long ago. Their home was quite a
turtle-doves' nest now. Had madame paid them a visit yet? They were
certain to be at home; she had but a few moments previously observed
that the shutters were open in the Rue Vineuse. They had formerly had
such regard for madame that surely they would be delighted to receive
her with open arms!

The old hag leered at Monsieur Rambaud as she thus mumbled away. He
listened to her with the composure of a brave man. The memories that
were being called up before him brought no shadow to his unruffled
face. Only it occurred to him that the pertinacity of the old beggar
was annoying Helene, and so he hastened to fumble in his pocket, in
his turn giving her some alms, and at the same time waving her away.
The moment her eyes rested on another silver coin Mother Fetu burst
into loud thanks. She would buy some wood at once; she would be able
to warm her afflicted body--that was the only thing now to give her
stomach any relief. Yes, the doctor's home was quite a nest of
turtle-doves, and the proof was that the lady had only last winter
given birth to a second child--a beautiful little daughter,
rosy-cheeked and fat, who must now be nearly fourteen months old. On
the day of the baptism the doctor had put a hundred sous into her hand
at the door of the church. Ah! good hearts came together.