g how happy they would be, all
three of them, in a nice room, which she pictured full of endless joys,
like some Paradise. It was by no means difficult to cut out and paste up
the little boxes. As soon as Norine should know the work, she, who was
strong, might perhaps earn three francs a day at it. And five francs a
day between them, would not that mean fortune, the rearing of the child,
and all evil things forgotten, at an end? Norine, more weary than ever,
gave way at last, and ceased refusing.

"You daze me," she said. "I don't know. Do as you like--but certainly it
will be great happiness to keep this dear little fellow with me."

Cecile, enraptured, clapped her hands; while Mathieu, who was greatly
moved, gave utterance to these deeply significant words: "You have saved
him, and now he saves you."

Then Norine at last smiled. She felt happy now; a great weight had been
lifted from her heart. And carrying her child in her arms she insisted
on accompanying her sister and their friend to the first floor.

During the last half-hour Constance and Madame Angelin had been deep in
consultation with Madame Bourdieu. The former had not given her name,
but had simply played the part of an obliging friend accompanying
another on an occasion of some delicacy. Madame Bourdieu, with the keen
scent characteristic of her profession, divined a possible customer in
that inquisitive lady who put such strange questions to her. However,
a rather painful scene took place, for realizing that she could not
forever deceive Madame Angelin with false hopes, Madame Bourdieu decided
to tell the truth--her case was hopeless. Constance, however, at last
made a sign to entreat her to continue deceiving her friend, if only for
charity's sake. The other, therefore, while conducting her visitors to
the landing, spoke a few hopeful words to Madame Angelin: "After all,
dear madame," said she, "one must never despair. I did wrong to speak as
I did just now. I may yet be mistaken. Come back to see me again."

At this moment Mathieu and Cecile were still on the landing in
conversation with Norine, whose infant had fallen asleep in her arms.
Constance and Madame Angelin were so surprised at finding the farmer
of Chantebled in the company of the two young women that they pretended
they did not see him. All at once, however, Constance, with the help of
memory, recognized Norine, the more readily perhaps as she was now
aware that Mathieu had, ten years pr