She seated herself upon a stone, thoughtfully examined her shoes, took them off, and then drew off her stockings, saying: "Look! This is the best thing to do, after all! Why should you have any trouble about the matter ?" "Oh, my good young lady! God will reward you!" exclaimed the mother Lemballeuse, as she turned over the shoes and found they were not only excellent and strong, but almost new.

"I will cut them a trifle on the top, to make them a little larger--Tiennette, why do you not thank her, stupid creature ?" Tiennette snatched from the hands of Rose and Jeanne the stockings they were coveting.

She did not open her lips; she only gave one long, fixed, hard look.
But now Angelique realised that her feet were bare, and that Felicien saw them.

She blushed deeply, and knew not what to do.

She dared not move, for, were she to rise to get up, he would only see them all the more.