“And what did they say to you?”
“That’s the funny thing: they all wanted me to go to the theater, and of course I was delighted,—just imagine!—and we were to meet at different places; and then we talked of other things, and they all took such an interest in Dodor and asked so many questions all about how I lived; and one, the one with the red rosette, gave me a great five-franc piece—he said it was a present for Dodor. But the funny thing was, when we reached home they had forgotten about the theater, and said they had other engagements, and that they would come some other evening. The old gentleman with the rosette gave me another five-franc piece for myself, only this one was in gold, a very small one, and he told me to remember and always be a good girl, for the angels were watching me; and I said I would, and he kissed my hand and went away. But I never saw them again, for one never meets the same person twice in an omnibus, you know.”
Toto assented. He was thinking of this lark that flew so mysteriously between Célestin and sin, and lived in a parrot cage.
They had crossed the Place de la Concorde by this, crossed the Pont de la Concorde, and were heading for the Eiffel Tower. They were walking quickly, too, for was it not to the relief of Dodor, pining for his groundsel, or whatever larks are fed upon?
The exercise began to tell upon Célestin. She coughed a little, and put her hand to her chest high up near the collar-bone.
“You are not strong?”
“Oh, yes, I am very strong, only my chest pains me at times, and I cough at nights sometimes—a little, not much.”
“Célestin,” said Toto, in a very serious voice, “I want you to meet me again. Will you?”
“Oh, dear!” sighed Célestin; “I forgot that we had to part.”
“But we shall meet again.”