"Listen to me, kitten; you must tell me everything.

You have nothing more to fear now." Whilst speaking they hastened from shop to shop--to the pork butcher's, the fruiterer's, the cook-shop; and the errands in greasy paper were piled up in their hands.

Still they remained amiable, flouncing along and casting bright glances behind them with gusts of gay laughter.
Madame Lerat herself was acting the young girl, on account of the button manufacturer who was still following them.
"He is very distinguished looking," she declared as they returned into the passage.

"If he only has honorable views--" Then, as they were going up the stairs she suddenly seemed to remember something.

"By the way, tell me what the girls were whispering to each other--you know, what Sophie said ?" Nana did not make any ceremony.