Children -- Juvenile fiction; Paris (France) -- Juvenile fiction
The face of Jeanne's father looked back at her. It seemed to her that
his eyes were accusing her.
"You have kept her from her rightful home and from the pleasures of
childhood," went on the voice. And the face in the locket seemed to
agree with the voice.
"To-night the child stayed in the park with a puppet--the only play toy
she has ever had. She fell asleep in front of the Guignol, where happy
children go to clap and laugh. But you give Jeanne no time for play
and laughter."
It was all true. But Suzanne knew that if Jeanne stopped showing the
clothes she made, her audience would cease to be interested. If she did
not draw her audience, she could not sell the clothes. And if she did
not sell the clothes, she could not support Jeanne.
It was all quite terrible for Auntie Sue. And she dared not mention it
to a soul. Nobody knew that Jeanne did not belong to her. Nobody knew
Jeanne's story, not even the Major.
CHAPTER XI
LITTLE SPOILED MARGOT
"Grandmother! Grandmother! Home again! How glad I am!"
Little Margot threw herself into Madame Villard's arms, and the old lady
hugged her close.
"Yes, my little Margot. Grandmother comes back for one splendid
occasion!"
"Ah, my birthday," smiled Margot.
And then Grandmother and Margot planned for that birthday. It was
strange how Margot did not like so many things.
When Grandmother mentioned a theater party, the little girl shook her
dark head.
"No, it is not what I like," she said.
Then Grandmother suggested a trip to the zoo with a party of girls and
boys.
"No, I do not like the zoo!" Margot pouted.
"A Guignol party, chérie?" asked Grandmother.
"Ah, no! They are so stupid!" complained Margot.
And Grandmother smiled and shook her head.
"My Margot is a little bit spoiled, perhaps," she observed.
Margot was not a little bit, but a great big bit spoiled. Grandmother
and Mother had both spoiled her, from the day she was born.
Mother was nearly always with Father and Margot saw little of her. When
they were together Mother would kiss and hug a great deal and sometimes
she would cry. There were always gifts in Mother's room for Margot.
And when Mother brought her into Father's room, he, too, would pet and
caress her and give her toys or candy. Poor, helpless Father! He loved
to see his little girl. It made his dull eyes brighten when she came
into the room.
He would say to Mother after Margot had left, "Has the sun gone under a
cloud, Marie? It seems darker to me."
You see, he felt sunshine while his little daughter was there.
But the nurse would not allow frequent visits. Ah, Father might never be
allowed to forget that bitter war!
So Grandmother played guardian to Margot. And a loving and indulgent
guardian was she!
Margot could play from morning until night if she wanted to, except, of
course, for school hours.
The nursery was filled with costly toys. They did not interest little
Margot any more. There were so many of them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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