"Yes," answered the young girl, absorbed in what she was doing, and without even looking up. "I have been here a long time; it would be taking advantage to stay longer, you know." "You know very well that it would be nothing of the kind; and it was almost settled that you were to stay until Monday, and then, all at once, you changed your mind. What is the matter?" "Why, nothing at all. What do you imagine could be the matter?" "If I knew, I should not ask you. Come, now! what can it be? you don't seem to find things too dull?" "Oh, Bijou, however could I find things dull?" "Oh, well, you might; and yet, you see your _fiance_ almost as much as when you were at Pont-sur-Loire." "Oh, no--" "Oh, yes; let us reckon, shall we? M. Spiegel went to Paris for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday; Tuesday he came here to dinner with M. Dubuisson; Wednesday he came alone; Thursday he managed to swallow the confirmation luncheon, poor man; Friday he was here to dinner; and every day we have been rehearsing our play either before or after dinner, so that he has never been away from you." "Yes, that's true," answered Jeanne reluctantly; "but if he has not been away from me, he has scarcely troubled about me at all." "How do you mean?" "How? Oh! it is simple enough! He has only troubled about you; he has talked to no one but you." "To me?" "Yes, to you--there! I may as well own it, Bijou; I am jealous--frightfully jealous." "Jealous of whom? Of me?" asked Denyse, with a startled look. Mademoiselle Dubuisson nodded, and then she proceeded to explain, whilst the tears rose to her eyes: "You must forgive me for telling you this. I can see that I am causing you pain, but it is better, is it not, to tell the truth, than to let you suspect all kinds of wrong reasons? You are not angry with me?" "No; not at all!" And then Bijou added sorrowfully: "It is you who ought rather to be angry with me. But you are mistaken, I assure you! M. Spiegel, who is very polite, has taken notice of me simply because I am the grandchild of his hostess, and not for any other reason." "He has taken notice of you for the same reason which makes everyone take notice of you--just because you are adorable, and you know that very well!" "Oh, no! I--" "It was quite certain that he would be fascinated by you, just as all the others are, and I was very silly not to have foreseen what would happen. I counted too much on his affection--I thought that he loved me just as I love him--I was mistaken, that's all!" "Then I shall not see anything more of you? You will avoid all opportunities of meeting me?" "No; we shall spend the whole of the day together at the paper-chase." "As you will be driving, and I shall be riding, I shall not be much in your way." Bijou was silent for a minute, and then she began again in an anxious tone: "You don't think, at any rate, that it is my fault--what has happened?"