Then a crowd of little easy-chairs, and ottomans of all forms and all colors, were scattered here and there with an appearance of disorder which was the perfection of art.
As soon as Mrs.Scott saw the Cure and Jean enter, she rose, and going to meet them, said: "How kind of you to come, Monsieur le Cure, and you, too, Monsieur Jean.
How pleased I am to see you, my first, my only friends down here!" Jean breathed again.

It was the same woman.
"Will you allow me," added Mrs.Scott, "to introduce my children to you?
Harry and Bella, come here." Harry was a very pretty little boy of six, and Bella a very charming little girl, five years old.

They had their mother's large, dark eyes, and her golden hair.
After the Cure had kissed the two children, Harry, who was looking with admiration at Jean's uniform, said to his mother: "And the soldier, mamma, must we kiss him, too ?" "If you like," replied Mrs.Scott, "and if he will allow it." A moment after, the two children were installed upon Jean's knees, and overwhelming him with questions.
"Are you an officer ?" "Yes, I am an officer." "What in ?" "In the artillery." "The artillery! Oh, you are one of the men who fire the cannon.

Oh, how I should like to be quite near when they fire the cannon!" "Will you take us some day when they fire the cannon?
Tell me, will you ?" Meanwhile, Mrs.Scott chatted with the Cure, and Jean, while replying to the children's questions, looked at Mrs.Scott.She wore a white muslin frock, but the muslin disappeared under a complete avalanche of little flounces of Valenciennes.

The dress was cut out in front in a large square, her arms were bare to the elbow, a large bouquet of red roses at the opening of her dress, a red rose fixed in her hair, with a diamond 'agraffe'-- nothing more.
Mrs.Scott suddenly perceived that the children had taken entire possession of Jean, and exclaimed: "Oh, I beg your pardon.