"Never," said Jack, calmly. And yet that very day D'Argenton had desired
him to present his compliments to the countess, with a copy of his
poems; but Jack at first forgot the volume, and finally lost it, as much
from cunning as from heedlessness.

Thus, while these two dissimilar natures were attracted toward each
other, the child stood between them suspicious and defiant, as if he
already foresaw what the future would bring about.

Every two weeks Jack dined with his mother, sometimes alone with her,
sometimes with their friend. They went to the theatre in the evening, or
to a concert, and Jack was sent back to school with his pockets full of
dainties, in which the other children shared.

One evening, as he entered his mother's house, he saw the dining-table
laid for three, and a gorgeous display of flowers and crystal. His
mother met him, exquisitely dressed, wearing in her hair sprays of white
lilacs, like those that filled the vases. The blazing fire alone lighted
the salon, into which she gayly drew the boy, as she said, "Guess who is
here!"

"O, I know very well!" exclaimed Jack in delight; "it is our good
friend."

But it was D'Argenton, who sat in full evening dress on the sofa,
near the fire. The enemy was in Jack's own seat, and the child was so
overwhelmed by his disappointment that he with difficulty restrained his
tears. There was a moment of restraint and discomfort felt by all three.
Just then the door was thrown open, and dinner announced by Augustin.
The dinner was long and tedious to little Jack. Have you ever felt so
entirely out of place that you would have gladly disappeared from off
the face of the globe, painfully conscious, withal, that had you
so vanished, no one would have missed you? When Jack spoke, no one
listened; his questions were unheard and his wants unheeded. The
conversation between his mother and D'Argenton was incomprehensible to
him, although he saw that his mother blushed more than once, and hastily
raised her glass to her lips as if to conceal her rising color. Where
were those gay little dinners when Jack sat close at his mother's side
and reigned an absolute king at the table? This recollection came to
the boy's mind just as Madame de Barancy offered a superb pear to
D'Argenton.

"That came from our friend at Tours," said Jack, maliciously.

D'Argenton, who was about to peel the fruit, dropped it upon his plate
with a shrug of the shoulders. What an angry glance Ida