"Yes, monsieur, she was very polite; but her manner was rather haughty."
"Very well, my child, go back to your flowers; next week you shall carry another bouquet to Madame de Grangeville."
"Very good, monsieur; and must I let her think that that one too comes from a Monsieur de Merval? For she is fully persuaded that it was a gentleman of that name who sent me to her."
"You must be very careful not to undeceive her."
On leaving the count, the young flower girl met Georget, whom she told what she had been doing, and who walked with her to her booth, saying:
"We have come back to Paris. Monsieur Malberg gives me writing and figuring to do and sends me on errands; but that won't prevent me from seeing you every day. I am so happy! every morning I will come to the boulevard to bid you good-morning, and in the evening I will come to help you carry home your flowers."
"I agree to that, Georget, but only on condition that it doesn't interfere with your work. I haven't told you, but I believe that Monsieur Malberg will help me find my family."
"Your family! what need of them have you now? Don't I fill the place of your family?"
"But, Georget, a person is always very glad to have a family, and if I still had a mother——"
"Your mother! as she abandoned you, it must have been that she didn't love you."