"After all, the young man is very excusable, for you see, Madame Fourcy, there are people in Paris who don't like cake; it isn't as it is in the village, where it takes the place of salad. And then, Auguste is a little thoughtless; but his heart's in the right place! yes, he has a very kind heart! I know him better than anybody. Besides, at this time above all others, I shouldn't think of speaking ill of him; and although he's ruined----" "Ruined!" cried Denise; and in her emotion the girl dropped the kettle, whose contents completed the disfigurement of Cézarine's gown. "Great God! but I'm unlucky to-day!" she cried, as she gazed at her garment; "how do you expect me to go back to Parith, and play _Andromaque_ on Monday, in thith dreth?" Mère Fourcy lost herself in apologies; but Denise paid no heed to the accident she had caused; she ran to Virginie, exclaiming: "Ruined! Monsieur Auguste ruined! Oh! mon Dieu! madame, how did it happen, pray?" "I'll tell you directly, my dear love." Virginie, first of all, seated herself at the table; Cézarine did the same and forgot the accidents that had happened to her dress as she helped herself to double portions. Mère Fourcy stood respectfully before the young women, and poor Denise, with her eyes fixed on Virginie's, waited impatiently until she should choose to tell her what had happened to Auguste. "Pray be seated, venerable aunt," said Virginie to Mère Fourcy, who believed that she was entertaining ladies from the court. "Indeed, madame, I shall not think of it!" "I thall refuthe to eat if you continue to thtand," said Cézarine, as she ate her third egg. "I know too well what I owe you, madame." "You don't owe us anything at all, Mère Fourcy; on the contrary, we ought to be waiting on you." "Oh, madame! the idea!" "Respect the wrinkled--that's my motto. Sit down, I say!" "How well madame would play the mother of Coriolanuth!" "Let's drop Coriolanus, cousin, and give Madame Fourcy a chair." As she spoke, Virginie rose from the table, seized Mère Fourcy's arms and led her to a chair. As the peasant woman continued to resist, Virginie pushed her backward and ended by taking her by the shoulders and forcing her to the floor beside the chair. The good woman fell almost under the table, while Virginie, thinking that she was seated, resumed her own place. But when she found that she could not see her, she said: "I am afraid that I have given you rather a low chair, but, at all events, you'll be more comfortable than if you were standing." "That'th a very nithe theat you've got!" said Cézarine, as she assisted Mère Fourcy to rise. "Why, did you fall? Thee what cometh of holding back! Did you hurt yourself?" "You're very kind, madame--just a little bit, on the hip." "That can't help doing you good; it thtirth up the blood. Take a theat, pray." Mère Fourcy did not wait to be urged any more; and when tranquillity was restored, Denise said once more: "And Monsieur Auguste, madame?"