"Oh! I know her," said Virginie, running up a few stairs and looking after Léonie. "Oh, yes! I know her. I don't advise her to put on airs. _We won't go to the forest again without paying for our dinner._" But Madame Saint-Edmond had already entered her room and closed her door. Virginie left the house with Denise, to whom she had taken a fancy; and she fairly forced her to take her arm for the walk to the stage office. Denise was depressed and replied briefly to the innumerable questions which Virginie asked her; but she was perfectly well able to carry on a conversation all alone. When they arrived at the office, the stage was ready to start. Virginie kissed Denise and said to her: "Adieu, my dear! Don't be downcast like this. You're very lucky to live in the country; it's a thousand times better than this rascally Paris! You'll find more lovers in your village than you want. I say! is that the stage? It's a regular little chamber-pot like the one that goes to Saint-Denis. When I have time, I'll come and see you, and you must teach me how to make butter. Adieu, my dear girl.--Be careful, driver, and don't get upset; remember that you have a Love in your little pot." Denise and Coco started for home less cheerful than when they set out. The event often falsifies our hopes, and we find pain where we had thought to find pleasure. XIV THE SCHOOL FOR PARVENUS "Poor Denise was very downhearted when she went away," said Bertrand to Auguste on the day following the girl's trip to Paris. "I was very sorry indeed not to be able to talk with her any longer," Dalville replied; "but it wasn't my fault--that lady was waiting for me." "That lady! That lady might perhaps have waited a few minutes more." "Bertrand!" "Excuse me, lieutenant; the fact is, I was really distressed to see you hardly speak to that girl, at whose home we were treated so hospitably. Just remember the welcome they gave us, and how delighted they were to see you!" "Oh! I haven't forgotten it." "You didn't even thank her for her present!" "I didn't see it. But we will go to the village soon, and I will make up for my neglect. I am to dine at Madame de la Thomassinière's to-day, Bertrand; there will be a lot of people, and a large party in the evening. Probably I shall not come home until morning. By the way, make a memorandum to the effect that I have lent a hundred louis to Monsieur le Marquis de Cligneval, who was very unlucky at cards a day or two ago, at a house where I happened to be; he is to pay me very soon." Bertrand did not reply; but as he went to the cash-box he muttered: "More money that we shall never see again! He's forever lending, and no one ever pays him back!"