"`No, indeed, that is my only comfort,' said Edmee. `I will try to learn all my lessons as fast and well as ever I can, so that little mother will soon see there is no need to stay longer in Paris, and we will come back, never again to leave our dear Valmont. Will not that be a good plan, mother Germain?' "`Excellent!' said the good woman, delighted to see that the child had taken up this idea; `that will certainly be much better than crying.' "`Though,' continued Edmee, `I shall not like Paris--I have a sort of fear of it. I think there must be many cruel people there. That Victorine--do you remember her, mamma Germain?--she told me things I hardly understood, about the way people live there--how the rich despise the poor, and the poor hate the rich. And sometimes she would shake her head and say, "Ah, one would live to see many things changed--she herself might be a great lady yet; but if she were a great lady she could know how to enjoy herself--_she_ would not choose for her friends common peasants." That she said to vex me, you know.' "`Ah yes, she was not a nice girl,' said Madame Germain. "`And she is still with my aunt, the Marquise,' went on Edmee. `I do not want to see her again. I hope mamma will take Nanette. I should not like Victorine to have anything to do for me.' She remained silent for a moment, then looking up suddenly, `Mother Germain,' she said, `does Pierre, my poor Pierrot, does he know about our going away?' "Madame Germain nodded her head. For herself she could bear her share of the sorrow, but her heart failed her when she thought of how her boy would feel it, and for the first time the tears came into her eyes. "`Ah, he does,' said Edmee. `He has not been to the Chateau for two days, and I wondered why.' "`He dared not go, till we knew that you knew it,' said Pierre's mother. `We felt sure your quick eyes would see there was something the matter.' "`I think I have known it was coming,' said the little girl with a sigh. `I have felt sad sometimes of late without knowing why, and never has my uncle been here without my seeing that his words troubled my mother, even though she did not tell me why. Mother Germain, I cannot do any embroidery to-day; just let me sit still here beside you for awhile, and then I will go home. Pierre will be in soon, will he not?' "And, tired with the excitement and the crying, Edmee again laid her head on her old friend's knee, and Madame Germain went on quietly knitting, and did not at first notice that the little girl had fallen asleep, till, hearing a step approaching, she looked up and saw Pierre entering the cottage. She was going to speak, but the boy held up his hand. "`She is asleep, mother,' he whispered as he came near, `and she has been crying. Does she know? Has my lady told her?'