"I think that you are not fond of the care and pains people take for those whom they love, who are in trouble. You like to have your time to yourself, to turn everything into sport, to think about your dress, your lovers, and your marriage by and by, and you do not mind having others do your share. If you have any heart, my pretty child, if you really love your sister-in-law, and your dear little nephew, and even the poor, faithful servant who is capable of dying in harness like a good horse, you must wake up a little earlier in the morning, you must care for Madeleine, comfort Jeannie, relieve Catherine, and, above all, shut your ears to the enemy of the family, Madame Sévère, who is, I assure you, a very bad woman. Now you know what I think, neither more nor less." "I am glad to hear it," said Mariette, rather dryly; "and now please tell me by what right you wish to make me think as you do." "Oh! This is the way you take it, is it?" answered François. "My right is the waif's right, and to tell you the whole truth, the right of the child who was taken in and brought up by Madame Blanchet; for this, it is my duty to love her as my mother, and my right to try to requite her for her kindness." "I have no fault to find," returned Mariette, "and I see that I cannot do better than give you my respect at once, and my friendship as time goes on." "I like that," said François; "shake hands with me on it." He strode toward her, holding out his great hand, without the slightest awkwardness; but the little Mariette was suddenly stung by the fly of coquetry, and, withdrawing her hand, she announced that it was not proper to shake hands so familiarly with a young man. François laughed and left her, seeing plainly that she was not frank, and that her first object was to entangle him in a flirtation. "Now, my pretty girl," thought he, "you are much mistaken in me, and we shall not be friends in the way you mean." He went up to Madeleine, who had just waked, and who said to him, taking both his hands in hers: "I have slept well, my son, and God is gracious to let me see your face first of all, on waking. How Is it that Jeannie is not with you?" Then, after hearing his explanation, she spoke some kind words to Mariette, telling the young girl how sorry she was to have her sit up all night, and assuring her that she needed no such great care. Mariette expected François to say that she had risen very late; but François said nothing and left her alone with Madeleine, who had no more fever and wanted to try to get up. After three days, she was so much better that she was able to talk over business affairs with François.