As she was returning to Madame de la Rochaigue, that lady drew back a few steps in proportion as Ernestine approached, and said to her, in tones of tender reproach: "Ah, my dear, sweet child, you are incorrigible!" "And why, madame, do you say that?" "I am terribly, pitilessly, brutally plain-spoken as I have told you. It is one of my greatest faults, so I shall scold you, scold you every day of your life, if you don't hold yourself straighter." "It is true, madame, though I certainly try my best not to bend over so." "But I shall not allow it, my darling child. I shall show you no mercy. What is the use of having such a lovely figure if you do not show it off any better? What is the use of having such a charming face, with such delicate features, and such an air of distinction, if you keep your head always bowed?" "But, madame!" exclaimed the orphan, no less embarrassed by these worldly eulogiums than by those which the devotee had lavished upon her. "Nor is this all," continued Madame de la Rochaigue, with affectionate gaiety. "I have a good scolding in store for that excellent Madame Laine. You have beautiful hair, and you would look a thousand times better if you wore it in curls. The carriage of your head is naturally so graceful and distinguished,--when you hold yourself erect, I mean of course,--that long curls would be wonderfully becoming to you." "I have always worn my hair in this way, madame, and have never thought of changing my style of coiffure, it being, I confess, a matter of very little consequence to me." "And that is very wrong in you, my dearest, for I want you to be attractive, very attractive. I am so proud of my charming ward that I want her to outshine everybody, even our greatest beauties." "I could never hope to do that, madame," replied Ernestine, with a gentle smile. "But you must and shall, mademoiselle," laughingly replied the baroness. "I want you to understand, once for all, that my ambition for you knows no bounds. In short, I mean that you shall be considered the prettiest and most charming of young girls, as you will by and by be known as the most elegant of women. It is true I saw you first only yesterday, but from certain traits and tendencies which I have noticed in you, I am sure, as I remarked just now, that you were born to be a brilliant star in the fashionable world." "I, madame?" exclaimed the orphan, wonderingly. "Yes, I am positive of it, for to be the rage it is not absolutely necessary to possess beauty or wealth or aristocratic lineage, or to be a marquise or a duchess, though it must be admitted that this last title aids one very materially. No, no, the one essential, I assure you, is a certain _je ne sais quoi!_ You have it; it is the easiest thing in the world to discern it in you." "Really, madame, you amaze me," exclaimed the poor child, utterly abashed.