culties in her way, thanks to Dame
Chevassat, who brought her her dinner as the clock struck six, according
to the agreement they had made.

The estimable lady had assumed a deeply grieved expression; you might
have sworn she had tears in her eyes. In her sweetest voice, she
asked:--

"Well, well, my beautiful young lady; so you have quarrelled with our
dear M. Maxime?"

Henrietta was so sure of the uselessness of replying, and so fearful of
new dangers, that she simply replied,--

"Yes, madam."

"I was afraid of it," replied the woman, "just from seeing him come down
the stairs with a face as long as that. You see, he is in love with you,
that kind young man; and you may believe me when I tell you so, for I
know what men are."

She expected an answer; for generally her eloquence was very effective
with her tenants. But, as no reply came, she went on,--

"We must hope that the trouble will blow over."

"No!"

Looking at Mrs. Chevassat, one would have thought she was stunned.

"How savage you are!" she exclaimed at last. "Well, it is your lookout.
Only I should like to know what you mean to do?"

"About what?"

"Why, about your board."

"I shall find the means, madam, you may be sure."

The old woman, however, who knew from experience what that cruel word,
"living," sometimes means with poor forsaken girls, shook her head
seriously, and answered,--

"So much the better; so much the better! Only I know you owe a good deal
of money."

"Owe?"

"Why, yes! The furniture here has never been paid for."

"What? The furniture"--

"Of course, M. Maxime was going to pay for it; he has told me so. But if
you fall out in this way--you understand, don't you?"

She hardly did understand such fearful infamy. Still Henrietta did not
show her indignation and surprise. She asked,--

"What did the furniture of this room cost? do you know?"

"I don't know. Something like five or six hundred francs, things are so
dear now!" The whole was probably not worth a hundred and fifty or two
hundred francs.

"Very well. I'll pay," said Henrietta. "The man will give me forty-
eight hours' time, I presume?"

"Oh, certainly!"

As the poor girl was now quite sure that this honeyed Megsera was
employed by M. de Brevan to watch her, she affected a perfectly calm
air. When she had finished her dinner, she even insisted upon paying
on the spot fifty francs, which she owed for the last few days, and for
some small purchases.