Odette deftly started to pucker the stuff into shape, and before long Nenette was called into existence, then Rintintin was soon in condition to be given his name.
“Aren’t they precious?” exclaimed Lucie, dangling them before her. “I shall really get too fond of them and shall want to keep them. It is just as well that Victor is going to-night or I might be tempted.”
“We will make the others and can keep at least one couple.”
“Until your soldier appears and then they must be given up. I shall send mine to papa at once. We must show them to Paulette. Shall you let your aunt see yours?”
“She would not be interested.”
Lucie hesitated before she asked a question which was on the end of her tongue, but at last she did say: “This aunt, Odette, is she kind to you?”
“She does not beat me,” replied Odette with a little wry smile, “and I am grateful to her for letting me stay with her when I was left with no one. I think that perhaps she is sorry that she allowed me, for it is very hard to find food for all. The ladies pay me for knitting the socks, but there is not any too much of that work to do, and I wish I might go back to the country. I am strong enough to work in the fields and it would be better than this.”
“That is what Paulette says. I wish, myself, that we were all there. Look at this second Rintintin, Odette. Isn’t he a droll fellow; I think I like him better than the first.”
In due course of time the freakish little figures were finished. Odette carried hers away. Lucie danced hers before the eyes of Pom Pom who tried to snap them up, then they were put away till Paulette should return and the business of dinner should be over.
“Aren’t they funny, Paulette?” asked Lucie as she displayed the fantastic little creatures. “This is what Odette and I have been doing to-day, making these.”