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In truth, several ladies were now leaving, after shaking hands with Madame Deberle. Many of the gentlemen had already wisely vanished, and the room was becoming less crowded. Now came the opportunity for the remaining gentlemen to sit down at table in their turn. Mademoiselle Aurelie, however, did not quit her place, though she would much have liked to secure a glass of punch.
Juliette's avowal of her sudden friendship was given with a caressing air. "You are too lovely not to be loved!" she said. Helene broke into a merry laugh, for her beauty never engaged her thoughts, and she called Jeanne, whose eyes were busy watching the pranks of Lucien and Pauline. But Madame Deberle detained the girl for a moment longer.
Doctor Deberle and Helene seemed good friends, whose sensible and somewhat reserved natures sympathized well. Thus it was that Juliette frequently declared: "Oh, you two would get on capitally! Your composure exasperates me!" The doctor returned from his round of visits at about six o'clock every evening. He found the ladies in the garden, and sat down beside them.
There was a good deal of laughter at it, but the little man never lost his self-possession for a moment. In the meantime Madame Deberle was taking her sister to task in a corner. "Good gracious! is it possible! what a fearfully low-necked dress you are wearing!" "Dear, dear! what have I done now? Papa hasn't said a word," answered Pauline coolly.
Helene was still on her knees in happy meditation when she heard Madame Deberle exclaiming: "It's over now; let us go." There ensued a clatter of chairs and a stamping of feet which reverberated along the arched aisles. Pauline had taken Jeanne's hand, and, walking away in front with the child, began to question her: "Have you ever been to the theatre?" "No. Is it finer than this?"
But Madame Deberle stepped closer to them, and said: "I hope we shall see each other frequently now. As Jeanne is feeling better, she must come down every afternoon." Helene was already casting about for an excuse, pleading that she did not wish to weary her too much. But Jeanne abruptly broke in: "No, no; the sun does me a great deal of good. We will come down, madame.
Still, she will have to keep to an easy-chair for at least a fortnight." Thereupon Monsieur Deberle gave a friendly slap on Malignon's shoulder. He wished his wife to go in, as it was really becoming too cold. For his own part, taking Lucien in his arms, he carried him into the house, covering him with kisses the while.
The Abbe was a meek officiating priest at Notre-Dame-de-Grace, the parish church of Passy; however, his charity was such that he was more beloved and more respectfully hearkened to than any other priest in the district. "Oh, he has such pious eloquence!" exclaimed Madame Deberle, with a sanctimonious look. "He has been very kind to us," said Helene.
Why on earth had that lady been so foolish as to jump down? Pauline, excessively provoked at this accident, which deprived her of a pleasure, declared it was silly to swing so high. On his side Doctor Deberle did not say a word, but seemed anxious. "It is nothing serious," said Doctor Bodin, as he came down again "only a sprain.
"Come, come, give the ladies your arms!" said Madame Deberle, her face covered with smiles as she watched the delight of the children. But the filing off in couples proved a lure. Lucien, who had triumphantly taken Jeanne's arm, went first.
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