y. She deemed Santerre's last creation, Anne-Marie,
to be far too material and degraded, because in one deplorable passage
the author remarked that Norbert's kisses had left their trace on the
Countess's brow. Santerre disputed the quotation, whereupon she rushed
upon the volume and sought the page to which she had referred.

"But I never degraded her," exclaimed the novelist in despair. "She
never has a child."

"Pooh! What of that?" exclaimed Valentine. "If Anne-Marie is to raise
our hearts she ought to be like spotless marble, and Norbert's kisses
should leave no mark upon her."

But she was interrupted, for Celeste, the maid, a tall dark girl with an
equine head, big features, and a pleasant air, now came in with the two
children. Gaston was at this time five years old, and Lucie was three.
Both were slight and delicate, pale like roses blooming in the shade.
Like their mother, they were fair. The lad's hair was inclined to be
carroty, while that of the girl suggested the color of oats. And they
also had their mother's blue eyes, but their faces were elongated like
that of their father. Dressed in white, with their locks curled, arrayed
indeed in the most coquettish style, they looked like big fragile dolls.
The parents were touched in their worldly pride at sight of them, and
insisted on their playing their parts with due propriety.

"Well, don't you wish anybody good evening?"

The children were not timid; they were already used to society and
looked visitors full in the face. If they made little haste, it was
because they were naturally indolent and did not care to obey. They at
last made up their minds and allowed themselves to be kissed.

"Good evening, good friend Santerre."

Then they hesitated before Mathieu, and their father had to remind them
of the gentleman's name, though they had already seen him on two or
three occasions.

"Good evening, Monsieur Froment."

Valentine took hold of them, sat them on her lap, and half stifled them
with caresses. She seemed to adore them, but as soon as she had sat them
down again she forgot all about them.

"So you are going out again, mamma?" asked the little boy.

"Why, yes, my darling. Papas and mammas, you know, have their affairs to
see to."

"So we shall have dinner all alone, mamma?"

Valentine did not answer, but turned towards the maid, who was waiting
for orders;--

"You are not to leave them for a moment, Celeste--you hear? And, above
all thin