Helene gave her a startled look.
"You don't think M. Floriot suspects?" she gasped.
"That you and Raymond are in love with each other? Oh, of course, not!" laughed Rose. "He would have to be blind not to see it. Everyone in the neighborhood knows it!"
With a gasp of consternation the girl hid her face in her hands.
"The baker asked me yesterday when the wedding was to be celebrated," went on the housekeeper, wickedly. "And day before yesterday it was the butcher. A few days ago the grocer made some inquiries about it, and——"
She was apparently prepared to continue indefinitely when a joyous voice from the doorway interrupted her.
"There you are!"
And Maître Raymond Floriot hurried in.
"Yes, there she is—quite by accident! You didn't expect to see her, did you?" They heard her laughing as she went down the hall.
Helene managed to recover a semblance of her prim dignity as she gave him both her hands and looked up into his dancing eyes.