And just as they were at last leaving the house they heard a call: "Mamma! mamma!" It came from little Celine, whose face was beaming with delight.

She was wearing a pair of new shoes and devouring a cake.

"Mamma," she resumed, "Monsieur l'Abbe who came the other day wants to see you.

Just look! he bought me all this!" On seeing the shoes and the cake, Madame Theodore understood matters.

And when Pierre, who was behind the child, accosted her she began to tremble and stammer thanks.