Adele passed a cord round her ankles, and the mere touch of it quickened Celia to a spasm of revolt.

Her last little remnant of liberty was being taken from her.

She raised herself, or rather would have raised herself.

But Helene with gentle hands held her in the chair, and whispered under her breath: "Have no fear! Madame is watching." Adele looked fiercely up into the girl's face.
"Keep still, hein, la petite!" she cried.

And the epithet--"little one"-- was a light to Celia.