"Yes, it is quite settled. I had invited M. de Bernes, too; but he makes out that he cannot come, because he is going with his friends." "Where did you see M. de Bernes?" "In the drawing-room just a minute ago. Ah, of course you did not know. He has come to bring the invitation for M. Giraud. Jean wrote to him for it, because M. Giraud wanted to go to the paper-chase, and as there are refreshments offered by the officers to their guests, grandmamma is so scrupulous that she would not take him without an invitation." "Then M. de Bernes is staying to luncheon, too?" "No, he has gone again; he is the hare, you know, and the meeting-place is at the cross-roads at three o'clock; it is quite near for us, but for those who come from Pont-sur-Loire, it's a good step." "What time do we start?" "At half-past two the carriages, and a quarter past two those who are riding--Do you know--I feel inclined to dress before luncheon, so that I should not have to think any more about it." "You have half an hour." "Well, you are ready. Come with me while I dress, will you?" Jeanne followed Bijou in a docile way, as the latter hurried along the corridors, singing as she went. "You are always gay," remarked Jeanne, "but this morning it seems to me that you are particularly joyful. What is it that makes you so?" "Why, nothing! I am delighted about the paper-chase, and the theatre; then, too, it is beautiful weather, the sky is so blue, the flowers so fresh and beautiful, it seems to me delicious to be alive--but that's all!" "Oh, well, that's something at any rate." "Sit down," said Bijou, pushing Mademoiselle Dubuisson into a cosy arm-chair. Jeanne sat down, and looked round at the pretty room. The walls were hung with pale pink cretonne, with a design of large white poppies. The ceiling, too, was pink, and the Louis Seize furniture was lacquered pink. There were flowers everywhere, in strange-shaped glass vases, and the air was laden with a delicious, penetrating perfume, a mixture of chypre, iris, and a scent like new-mown hay. Jeanne inhaled this perfume with delight. "What do you put in your room to make it smell like this?" she asked. "Does it smell of something? I do not smell anything--anyhow, I don't use scent for it," answered Bijou, sniffing the air around her with all her might. "Oh! why, that's incredible!" exclaimed Jeanne astounded. "But do you mean truly that you do not put anything at all to scent your room?" "Absolutely nothing." Denyse was moving about, getting everything she required before changing her dress. She was not long in putting on her habit, and as she stood before the long glass, putting a few finishing touches to her toilette, Jeanne could not help admiring her. "How well it fits you!" she said. "It looks as though it had been moulded on you--it really is perfection! And then, too, you have such a pretty figure!" Denyse was just putting a pearl pin into her white cravat. The point broke with a little sharp click.