"Now, thou, chérie, shalt be dressed according to thy needs," said a happy mother to a blushing daughter.
"And thou, Carlice, shalt wear what suits thee at long last," said an ungainly aunt to an equally ungainly niece. "Ah, but she has the taste, the little Comtesse!"
On all sides there were sounds of rejoicing and pleasure at seeing the pretty child back again. Margot heard the words, but she had all the dignity of her race. She told Madame Coquenne and Madame Lise that she would be with them soon, as soon as possible, and then she went off to attend to Louise Grognan.
"I want a chapeau," said Louise. "You put on wonderful airs, Margot, seeing you are only a shopkeeper."
Margot looked at Louise out of her beautiful, deep, loving eyes.
"Do you want to say unkind things to me, Louise?" she remarked. "Ma belle grand'mère wishes me to help her a little and I am willing to do it, for she is overworked, but mon bon grandpère he knows nothing, he thinks me a fine lady, la Comtesse St. Juste. I consider that a fine lady is the one who does best her duty."
"Are you coming back to our school?" interrupted Louise.
"No, I'm too busy for the school."
"Ah, I thought as much. Besides, we do not take shopkeepers at our school."