"When she was quite little, I can remember, she was just the same--and so sensitive. How she used to cry, and how fond she was of kissing me; it was amazing--she did nothing else, in fact. And her face tells you just what she is, doesn't it? Her beauty seems to be made up of all the affection she feels, and of all that she has left of her childhood about her. And above all it is her expression. You often feel rather wicked and spiteful, but when she looks at you with that expression of hers it is as though everything of that kind disappears--as though something is melting away. Would you believe that I never ventured to play a single trick on her, and yet I was a terrible tease in the old days!" "Nevertheless, it's very extraordinary to be as affectionate as all that," said Mme. Mauperin. "Oh, no, it's quite natural," answered Denoisel. "Imagine a girl, who is born with the instinct of loving, just as we have the instinct of breathing. She is repelled by the coldness of a mother, who feels herself humiliated by her daughter, and who is ashamed of her; she is repelled also by the selfishness of a father, who has no other pride, no other love, and no other child but his wealth; well, a girl like this would be just like Mlle. Bourjot, and in return for any trifling interest you might take in her, she would repay you by the affection and the effusions of which you speak. Her heart would simply overflow with gratitude and love, and you would see in her eyes the expression Renee has noticed, an expression which seems to shine out through tears." XVI The rehearsals had been going on a fortnight, when one day Mme. Bourjot herself brought her daughter to the Mauperins. After the first greetings she expressed her surprise at not seeing the chief actor. "Oh, Henri has such a wonderful memory," said Mme. Mauperin; "he will only need a couple of rehearsals." "And how is it getting on?" asked Mme. Bourjot. "I must own that I tremble for my poor Noemi. Is it going fairly well? I came to-day, in the first place, to have the pleasure of seeing you, and then I thought I should like to judge for myself----" "Oh, you can be quite at your ease," said Mme. Mauperin. "You will see how perfectly natural your daughter is. She is quite charming." The actors went to their places and began the first scene of _The Caprice_. "Oh, you flattered her," said Mme. Bourjot to Mme. Mauperin after the first two or three scenes. "My dear child," she continued, turning to her daughter, "you don't act as though you felt it; you are merely reciting." "Oh, madame," exclaimed Renee, "you will frighten all the company. We need plenty of indulgence." "You are not speaking for yourself," answered Mme. Bourjot. "If only my poor child acted as you do."