When she became somewhat calmer, she began curling her flowers again and declared, "It can't be repeated." The others insisted, but she shook her head, seized again with a gust of gaiety.

Thereupon Augustine, her left-hand neighbor, besought her to whisper it to her; and finally Leonie consented to do so with her lips close to Augustine's ear.

Augustine threw herself back and wriggled with convulsive laughter in her turn.

Then she repeated the phrase to a girl next to her, and from ear to ear it traveled round the room amid exclamations and stifled laughter.

When they were all of them acquainted with Sophie's disgusting remark they looked at one another and burst out laughing together although a little flushed and confused.