"You'll keep it!" cried Nicholas, brutally, "if I give it to you. You are always taking--you--Miss Free-and-easy." "Oh! you then refrain from taking?" "I? I nail at the risk of my skin. It's not you who'd have been jugged if they'd caught me on the barge." "Well, there's your shawl! I don't care about it," said Calabash, sharply throwing it back into the case. "It is not on account of the shawl that I speak; I am not mean enough to value a shawl; for one, more or less, old Burette will not change her price; she buys in a lump," said Nicholas. "But instead of saying that you'd take the shawl you might ask if I would give it you. Come, keep it--keep it, I tell you; or if you won't, I'll pitch it into the fire to make the pot boil." These words soothed Calabash's bad temper, and she took the shawl. Nicholas was, doubtless, in a generous mood; for, tearing off with his teeth two of the handsomest handkerchiefs, he threw them to Francois and Amandine. "That's for you, my kids, to put you in the notion to go on the lay. Appetite comes with eating. Now go to bed; I want to talk with mother. Your supper shall be brought upstairs." The children clapped their hands, and waved triumphantly the stolen handkerchiefs which had just been given them. "Well, you little blockheads!" said Calabash, "will you listen any more to Martial? Has he ever given you such handsome things?" Francois and Amandine looked at each other; then hung their heads without replying. "Speak!" said Calabash, harshly; "has he ever made you presents?" "Well, no; he never has," said Francois, looking at his red handkerchief with delight. Amandine said, in a very low tone, "Brother Martial does not make us presents, because he hasn't the means." "If he would steal, he'd have them," said Nicholas; "eh, Francois?" "Yes, brother," answered Francois. Then he added: "Oh, the beautiful silk! What a fine cravat for Sunday?" "What a fine head-dress!" said Amandine. "Not to say how wild the children of the lime-burner will be when they see you pass," said Calabash, looking at the children to see if they comprehended the bearing of the words. The abominable creature thus called vanity to her assistance to stifle the last scruples of conscience. "The beggars will burst with envy: while you, with your fine silk, will look like little gentry." "That's true," answered Francois. "I am much more content with my fine cravat, since the little lime-burners will be so jealous; ain't you, Amandine?" "I am content with my fine kerchief." "You'll never be anything but a noodle!" said Calabash, disdainfully; and taking from the table a piece of bread and cheese, she gave it to the children and said, "Go upstairs to bed. Here is a lantern. Take care of the fire, and put out the light before you go to sleep."