"Why didn't she take 'em?" "Because--because she didn't want 'em." "Oh! that's different.--What! all this milk too?" "Oh, dear! yes, aunt." "And I wouldn't let Monsieur Brichard have any this morning!" "Oh! we'll use it up, aunt." "Has Madame Destival taken her trade away from you?" "Yes, aunt." "That's what makes you look so cut up then. Where does she expect to get better milk?" "Oh! it ain't on account of the milk, aunt." "On account of something else, is it?" "Yes, aunt." "That makes a difference. Tell me about this other thing, my child." Denise thought a moment, then replied: "You know, aunt, I told you yesterday that I met a fine gentleman who asked me the way to Monsieur Destival's?" "Yes, my dear." "And that it was the same man who gave a lot of money to Coco's grandmother, because Coco broke the soup-bowl?" "Yes, yes, I know. That sot of a Calleux will drink it all up." "Well, aunt, I saw that young man again this morning, at Monsieur Destival's." "So he's a young man, is he? You said a gentleman yesterday." "Bless me! so he is, a gentleman who is young." "Oh! that makes a difference." "He was very pleasant and friendly with me, and when he learned from me that Père Calleux spent all the money, he gave me this purse and told me to see that poor Coco has everything he needs. I took it, aunt; did I do wrong?" "Of course not, my dear; as if you didn't always do right, dear Denise. Well! you're a good girl too, and you don't let the men talk nonsense to you." "No, indeed, aunt; but I let that gentleman kiss me." "Oh! that makes a difference. What did he want to kiss you for?" "To thank me for agreeing to look after Coco, for he's very fond of him." "Well, I don't see any harm in all that, my child." "But Madame Destival did, for she came up to me in a rage and called me----" "She called you----?" "Oh! I don't want to repeat the horrid word.--Well! she called me a--a--hussy." "God in heaven! my niece, my Denise, a hussy! the virtuousest girl within ten leagues! And you didn't jump at her face?" "No, aunt; I just said that it was horrible to believe--to think--then I came home with my milk and my cheese." "You did right, my child, you did right; those folks don't deserve to eat such good things." Denise did not tell her aunt what Madame Destival had said about her milk and cheese, because Mère Fourcy would be just the woman to go to the business agent and demand satisfaction for such an insult. The girl did not like quarrelling and she wished never to hear Madame Destival's name again. Mère Fourcy went to the village to try to find customers for the milk and cheese. When she was alone, Denise took out the purse and counted its contents in her apron. There were twelve twenty-franc pieces, and six of five francs.