“Don’t let’s talk about that,” objected George. “You were saying--?” “You were not there. The nurse was out at mass, I think--” “Or at the wine merchant’s! Go on, go on.” “Well, I was in the little room, and mother dear thought she was all alone with Gervaise. I was listening; she was talking to the baby--all sorts of nonsense, pretty little words--stupid, if you like, but tender. I wanted to laugh, and at the same time I wanted to weep.” “Perhaps she called her ‘my dear little Savior’?” “Exactly! Did you hear her?” “No--but that is what she used to call me when I was little.” “It was that day she swore that the little one had recognized her, and laughed!” “Oh, yes!” “And then another time, when I went into her room--mother’s room--she didn’t hear me because the door was open, but I saw her. She was in ecstasy before the little boots which the baby wore at baptism--you know?” “Yes, yes.” “Listen, then. She had taken them and she was embracing them!” “And what did you say then?” “Nothing; I stole out very softly, and I sent across the threshold a great kiss to the dear grandmother!” Henriette sat for a moment in thought. “It didn’t take her very long,” she remarked, “today when she got the letter from the nurse. I imagine she caught the eight-fifty-nine train!” “Any yet,” laughed George, “it was really nothing at all.” “Oh no,” said his wife. “Yet after all, perhaps she was right--and perhaps I ought to have gone with her.” “How charming you are, my poor Henriette! You believe everything you are told. I, for my part, divined right away the truth. The nurse was simply playing a game on us; she wanted a raise. Will you bet? Come, I’ll bet you something. What would you like to bet? You don’t want to? Come, I’ll bet you a lovely necklace--you know, with a big pearl.” “No,” said Henriette, who had suddenly lost her mood of gayety. “I should be too much afraid of winning.” “Stop!” laughed her husband. “Don’t you believe I love her as much as you love her--my little duck? Do you know how old she is? I mean her EXACT age?” Henriette sat knitting her brows, trying to figure. “Ah!” he exploded. “You see you don’t know! She is ninety-one days and eight hours! Ha, ha! Imagine when she will be able to walk all alone. Then we will take her back with us; we must wait at least six months.” Then, too late, poor George realized that he had spoken the fatal phrase again. “If only you hadn’t put off our marriage, she would be able to walk now,” said Henriette. He rose suddenly. “Come,” he said, “didn’t you say you had to dress and pay some calls?” Henriette laughed, but took the hint. “Run along, little wife,” he said. “I have a lot of work to do in the meantime. You won’t be down-stairs before I shall have my nose buried in my papers. Bye-bye.” “Bye-bye,” said Henriette. But they paused to exchange a dozen or so kisses before she went away to dress.