se
high-bred, dainty little air, caused him to ponder. Who and what was
she? He smiled when Mere Bricolin brought her to him, and put out his
hand to greet her.

Estelle thought he had the kindest of faces, and accepted with joy his
invitation to let Jack bring her one day to see him. At that moment the
doctor, hastening across the Grande Place, caught sight of her.

'What!' he exclaimed, striking an attitude of surprise, as his face
beamed in merriment on her; 'you here, my little patient! Come to life
again all right, eh?'

'Have you tried to find out who your little friend is?' asked the Cure,
turning to Jack while Estelle laughed with her old friend.

'She cannot remember the name, sir, yet,' replied Jack, 'so I don't know
how to set about it. I have not the means to search without some clue.
Anyhow, I thought we would wait till she is stronger. She's hardly up to
a journey yet.'

'Journey!' cried the genial doctor, overhearing the last remark, 'who's
going to take a journey? Not this little lady? No, no: not yet. We
cannot lose our _petite dame_' (little lady) 'yet.'

'It can't be me,' said Estelle, her face clouding. 'I have nowhere to
go.' Then the remembrance of her dreams returning to her mind, she
added, 'At least, I can't think what my name is---- '

'All in good time--all in good time,' exclaimed the doctor hastily.
'Why, M. Jack and his mother are here to take care of you---- '

'And kind friends round you also, _petite dame_,' added the Cure, with
his pleasant smile.

It seemed to soothe Estelle, and she went on with Jack, smiling too.

CHAPTER XIV.

The excitement in Tout-Petit increased as the day of the _fete_ drew
near. The arrival of huge vans, decorated with gaudy colours and glaring
pictures, was received by a crowd of all sorts and conditions of the
peasant folk. This great fair was an annual business, and was held in
April each year.

It was held in the great meadows beyond the village, where there was no
limit to the space which it might occupy if its promoters chose to
stretch it out--space for booths innumerable; space for the great
circus, with its big tent for animals as well as men, women and
children; space for the huge varieties of shows, and space enough and to
spare--one would think--for the motley crowd to wander about in.
Neighbours from all the country round visited the _fete_. The richer
women, of all classes, secured lodgings. The poorer, who could not
afford