"That goes without saying. I didn't mention you to her at all." "Indeed, she probably is not aware of my existence, and perhaps it will be as well for you never to mention your son to her, so that she may not repent of her gracious behavior." "Why shouldn't I mention you to her? I shall or shall not, according to the turn the conversation happens to take." "You expect to see her often then? to go to her house perhaps?" "To meet her in the garden unquestionably; whether I go to her house or not will depend on the duration of her kindly disposition." "Was she agreeable?" "Very agreeable and natural." "Is she bright?" "I don't know; she has plenty of good sense, I think." "None of the arrogance of a _grande dame_?" "She showed me none of it." "Is she young?" "Why, yes." "And quite pretty, so they say?" "Fie! do you mean to say you have never seen her?" "I have, but at a distance. I have never happened to be near the window when she walked along our path." "But you know that she walks there every day?" "It was you who told me so. You must think I am very inquisitive, to watch all the beautiful women who pass? I am no longer a schoolboy, little mamma, I am a man, and my mind has been matured by disaster." "Did you learn any more unpleasant news at Marcel's?" "On the contrary, Uncle Antoine has agreed to become responsible for us." "Ah! at last! and you didn't tell me!" "You have been talking about something else." "Which was more interesting to you?" "Frankly, yes, for the moment! I am really overjoyed to think that you can walk in yonder garden at any time. I shall not be there to give you my arm, for naturally, I shall not be allowed to do that; but I shall see you go out and come back with more color and a little appetite, I hope!" "Appetite! you are the one who has no appetite! You have eaten almost nothing to-day, and yet you said that you were hungry. Where are you going, pray?" "To take Madame d'Estrelle's parasol to the porter at the hôtel. It would not be polite to neglect it." "You are right, but Babet will take it. It is quite useless to show yourself to the people there. It might cause talk." Madame Thierry took the parasol and placed it in her servant's hands herself. "Not that way!" cried Julien, taking it from her. "Babet will spot the silk with her hot hands." He carefully wrapped the parasol in white paper, and handed it to Babet, not without regret, but without hesitation. He saw clearly enough the anxiety of his mother, who was watching him closely. Babet remained away ten minutes; that was more time than she needed to walk the length of the garden on the street, enter the courtyard and return. She reappeared at last with the parasol and a note from the countess. "Madame, "You need a parasol as you will be exposed to the sunshine. Be kind enough to use mine; I desire to deprive you of every pretext for not coming to call upon "Your servant, "JULIE D'ESTRELLE."