"Only hear him!" said the servant. "This is the first time I ever knew him to talk so much at once. Then you know how to put two or three words together, do you, François? I really thought you could not even understand what other people said. If I had known that you were listening, I should not have spoken before you as I did, for I have no idea of hurting your feelings. You are a good, quiet, obliging boy. Come, you must not think of it any more; if it seems odd to me for our mistress to kiss you, it is only because you are too big for it, and so much coddling makes you look sillier than you really are." Having tried to mend matters in this way, big Catherine set about making her soup, and forgot all about what had passed. The waif followed Madeleine to the place where she did her washing, and sitting down beside her, he spoke as he knew how to speak with her and for her alone. "Do you remember, Madame Blanchet," said he, "how I was here once, long ago, and you let me go to sleep in your shawl?" "Yes, my child," said she, "it was the first time we ever saw each other." "Was it the first time? I was not certain, for I cannot recollect very well; when I think of that time, it is all like a dream. How many years ago is it?" "It is--wait a minute--it is nearly six years, for my Jeannie was fourteen months old." "So I was not so old then as he is now? When he has made his first communion, do you think he will remember all that is happening to him now?" "Oh! yes, I shall be sure to remember," cried Jeannie. "That may be so or not," said François. "What were you doing yesterday at this hour?" Jeannie was startled, and opened his mouth to answer; then he stopped short, much abashed. "Well! I wager that you cannot give a better account of yourself, either," said the miller's wife to François. She always took pleasure in listening to the prattle of the two children. "I?" said the waif, embarrassed, "wait a moment--I was going to the fields, and passed by this very place--I was thinking of you. Indeed, it was yesterday that the day when you wrapped me up in your shawl came into my mind." "You have a good memory, and it is surprising that you can remember so far back. Can you remember that you were ill with fever?" "No, indeed!" "And that you carried home my linen without my asking you?" "No." "I have always remembered it, because that was the way I found out how good your heart was." "I have a good heart too, haven't I, mother?" said little Jeannie, presenting his mother with an apple which he had half eaten. "To be sure you have, and you must try to copy François in all the good things you see him do." "Oh, yes!" answered the child quickly, "I shall jump on the yellow colt this evening, and shall ride it into pasture."