"By the way, you must knock softly, so as not to wake my aunt; for she gets up very late. We can move everything except her bed."
"We won't make any noise, mademoiselle."
"Adieu, Monsieur Paul! Oh, dear! now I don't know what I was going to buy at the linen draper's; in talking with you, I have entirely forgotten."
"Thread, perhaps—or ribbon—or needles?"
"No, no. Oh! what a head I have! Never mind; I'll go back and say they hadn't any. Then madame will say that it's taken me a long time to find that out."
"Don't you want me to go up to Madame Dumanchon's, mademoiselle? I'll tell her that you have forgotten what color you were to buy, or how much."
"Oh, no! for then they would know that I have been talking to you; and the girls are always making fun of me now, because——"
"Because you are kind enough to employ me in preference to others?"
"Yes; and then, I—I said that you were above your calling. And I was right too, as you were in a merchant's employ for a long while; but still, they are so unkind! Well, it can't be helped; I must go back. I will admit that I have forgotten what I came out for, and I shall be scolded; but that's a small matter."
The girl turned and walked dolefully back toward the house opposite, and was just passing through the door, when she suddenly jumped for joy and ran back across the street, saying to Paul as she passed him: