bout him.
But all these considerations did not keep Pierre from bursting out into a
fit of crying when he was once more under his mother's roof; and
Virginie, who was alone there (Madame Babette having gone out to make her
daily purchases), might have imagined him pommeled to death by the
loudness of his sobs.

"'What is the matter?' asked she. 'Speak, my child. What hast thou
done?'

"'He has robbed me! he has robbed me!' was all Pierre could gulp out.

"'Robbed thee! and of what, my poor boy?' said Virginie, stroking his
hair gently.

"'Of my five-franc piece--of a five-franc piece,' said Pierre, correcting
himself, and leaving out the word my, half fearful lest Virginie should
inquire how he became possessed of such a sum, and for what services it
had been given him. But, of course, no such idea came into her head, for
it would have been impertinent, and she was gentle-born.

"'Wait a moment, my lad,' and going to the one small drawer in the inner
apartment, which held all her few possessions, she brought back a little
ring--a ring just with one ruby in it--which she had worn in the days
when she cared to wear jewels. 'Take this,' said she, 'and run with it
to a jeweller's. It is but a poor, valueless thing, but it will bring
you in your five francs, at any rate. Go! I desire you.'

"'But I cannot,' said the boy, hesitating; some dim sense of honour
flitting through his misty morals.

"'Yes, you must!' she continued, urging him with her hand to the door.
'Run! if it brings in more than five francs, you shall return the surplus
to me.'

"Thus tempted by her urgency, and, I suppose, reasoning with himself to
the effect that he might as well have the money, and then see whether he
thought it right to act as a spy upon her or not--the one action did not
pledge him to the other, nor yet did she make any conditions with her
gift--Pierre went off with her ring; and, after repaying himself his five
francs, he was enabled to bring Virginie back two more, so well had he
managed his affairs. But, although the whole transaction did not leave
him bound, in any way, to discover or forward Virginie's wishes, it did
leave him pledged, according to his code, to act according to her
advantage, and he considered himself the judge of the best course to be
pursued to this end. And, moreover, this little kindness attached him to
her personally. He began to think how pleasant it would be to have so
kind and generous a p