"I did, it came about in this way. Madame la Comtesse told the Comte St. Juste that she had given up her enormous _magasin_. She said she had plenty of money without working any more and the Comte, _mon_ grandpère, he believed her. But she didn't give it up at all in reality and she sent me there every day to sell hats and robes to the customers, and at last some wicked girls in the school that I went to--they had seen me in the shop--and they went and told grandpère, _le pauvre_ grandpère--and he fell down in a sort of fit, and Madame was beside herself. But when he came to, I told him that the _établissement_ belonged to Madame Marcelle, and he grew happy again and he forgave _ma pauvre_ grand'mère. Oh, but it was terrible, for I had told a black, black lie! Then I thought I would repair it by bringing Tilly here and--I couldn't confess because I'm not a Catholic--so that seemed the--the only thing to do. Oh, Uncle Jacko, can you forgive me?" "Have you asked God to forgive you, my little child? I am a sinful man, but He--He is perfect. It was a difficult time for you, my little Margot, but you must on no account disturb The Desmond. Say nothing to him about the shop. You have three months to spend with him, and when I come to fetch you back to Arles, we can talk further on this matter." "Oh, Uncle Jacko, you _are_ good--you _are_ good, and you won't cease to love me?" "I shall never do that, my sweet babe." "And you will stay here for a couple of days, won't you?" "I will stay here till Monday," said the clergyman, "and I will do my very utmost to make Tilly happy. Now that I understand why she has come I can manage her. Good-night, sleep well, my little one." Margot did sleep well on her soft bed. The big, untidy room had been changed and altogether altered. Malachi had papered the walls white. Norah and Bridget had painted the doors a bright emerald green. There was a little bedstead with white muslin draperies put all ready for the child to sleep in, and there was a writing table in the window, and a chest of drawers which had been bought as a bargain by Phinias by the express orders of Malachi. Then there was a deep cupboard in the wall in which the dainty and innumerable little French frocks could be hung. But when Margot awoke the next morning, flushed with sleep, safe and happy, little knowing that Madam and The Desmond had been gazing at her at the dawn of day, she discovered in a deep corner of that same cupboard an ugly little frock, which had been made for her before she came to Desmondstown. It was a frock made in the ugliest imaginable style by a dressmaker chosen by Aunt Priscilla. Nevertheless it was the dress she had worn when first The Desmond had seen his little grandchild. Without a moment's hesitation she put it on.