"Perhaps monsieur thinks we've gone," suggested little Tony. "No, no, he knows we're here." "But perhaps he don't mean to go back to Paris to-day." "Then he'll come and tell us so." "And suppose he don't think of it?" "We will stay here until somebody comes to relieve us from duty. I've got my orders, that's enough for me." At last, about noon, Auguste appeared with Madame Destival on his arm. She leaned tenderly upon him and her face expressed nothing save satisfaction and the most amiable unconstraint. "It's strange!" thought Bertrand, "here's a lady that changes her face three or four times a day. However, I ought to be used to it. I've seen so many women like that. Everyone that comes to see monsieur as angry as you please, rolling her eyes, and talking loud, is as mild and gentle as a lamb when she leaves him; she hasn't the same face, nor the same eyes, nor the same voice." "Come, Bertrand, get in," said Auguste, who was already in the cabriolet with Madame Destival.--"You will be a little crowded, madame; but my faithful Bertrand isn't built to ride behind." "Oh! I shall be very comfortable," said Emilie, bestowing a soft glance on Auguste, and on Bertrand an affable smile; for nobody can be so amiable as our fair friends when things are going to suit them! But when you thwart them---- They drove away. When they passed the little path leading to Montfermeil, Auguste put out his head and looked, saying to himself: "I shall not always have a lady to drive to Paris." VII THE VILLAGE Denise started to return to her village; but she did not sing as her custom was, as she walked behind White Jean. Her heart was still heavy because of what had taken place at Madame Destival's; and although she had tried not to seem distressed, she did not forget the word--_hussy_--that had been applied to her. To be called by such a name as that, when she was virtuous, when she had nothing for which to reproach herself, seemed very hard to the little milkmaid. It is said that unmerited insults do not wound; but how can an honest and sincere heart fail to feel outraged on receiving epithets usually reserved for vice? It might much better be said that it is the vicious person who does not blush and who laughs at anything that may be said to her, because she retains no sense of shame. In my opinion the proverb "Only the truth gives offence" is essentially false.