"'The lady frowned, then replied:
"'"I am the Baronne de Mortagne. Here is my address on this paper; take it."
"'I took the paper and put it away carefully in my pocket; then I says:
"'"Now, if madame la baronne wants to write down my address, I'll give it to her."
"'The lady took a little book from a table—there was white paper and a pencil in it—and wrote down my name and address in full: Jacqueline Treillard, wife of Pierre Treillard, day laborer, Morfontaine. Then they gave me a good glass of wine and a cake, and when I had eaten, the person who had brought me there took the bundle of clothes and says:
"'"Now take the cradle with the child in it, and let's be off; I'll go to the stage office with you."
"'Before I took the child away, I lifted him in my arms and offered him to his mother, because I supposed she'd want to kiss him, and that she'd cry when it came to parting with him; but the beautiful lady didn't seem to feel it much; she just barely put her lips to the child's forehead, then handed him right back to me, saying:
"'"Take him away, and above all things don't amuse yourself by bringing him to Paris to show him to me; I don't like to have children carried round the country. I shall come to see you when I am able; here's twenty francs more for your journey."
"'"Faith!" thinks I to myself, "if this lady isn't very fond of children, I can't deny that she's mighty generous."
"'I got into the cab again with the lady who carried the bundle; we got safely to the stage office; I engaged a seat for four o'clock; and my companion was kind enough to keep me company; she didn't leave me till she saw me on board the stage that took me back to Morfontaine.