But she undoubtedly had her value: she attracted customers by the power, possibly, of her large black eyes, which smiled so readily.

During his sojourn at Lourdes the previous year, Gerard de Peyrelongue had scarcely stirred from the shop she managed, and doubtless it was only the matrimonial ideas now flitting through his head that prevented him from returning thither.

It seemed as though the Abbe des Hermoises had taken his place, for this gallant ecclesiastic brought a great many ladies to make purchases at the repository.
"Ah! you are speaking of Apolline," said Madame Majeste, at that moment coming back from the shop.

"Have you noticed one thing about her, gentlemen--her extraordinary likeness to Bernadette?
There, on the wall yonder, is a photograph of Bernadette when she was eighteen years old." Pierre and M.de Guersaint drew near to examine the portrait, whilst Majeste exclaimed: "Bernadette, yes, certainly--she was rather like Apolline, but not nearly so nice; she looked so sad and poor." He would doubtless have gone on chattering, but just then the waiter appeared and announced that there was at last a little table vacant.

M.
de Guersaint had twice gone to glance inside the dining-room, for he was eager to have his _dejeuner_ and spend the remainder of that fine Sunday out-of-doors.