The young man watched the opposite window steadily and painfully from early in the afternoon until the moon shone bright; and from the time the moon shone bright until Madame John!--joy!--Madame John! and not 'Tite Poulette, stepped through the wicket, much dressed and well muffled, and hurried off toward the _Rue Conde_.

Madame John was the "young lady;" and the young man's mind, glad to return to its own unimpassioned affairs, relapsed into quietude.
Madame John danced beautifully.

It had to be done.

It brought some pay, and pay was bread; and every Sunday evening, with a touch here and there of paint and powder, the mother danced the dance of the shawl, the daughter remaining at home alone.
Kristian Koppig, simple, slow-thinking young Dutchman, never noticing that he staid at home with his window darkened for the very purpose, would see her come to her window and look out with a little wild, alarmed look in her magnificent eyes, and go and come again, and again, until the mother, like a storm-driven bird, came panting home.
Two or three months went by.
One night, on the mother's return, Kristian Koppig coming to his room nearly at the same moment, there was much earnest conversation, which he could see, but not hear.
"'Tite Poulette," said Madame John, "you are seventeen." "True, Maman." "Ah! my child, I see not how you are to meet the future." The voice trembled plaintively.
"But how, Maman ?" "Ah! you are not like others; no fortune, no pleasure, no friend." "Maman!" "No, no;--I thank God for it; I am glad you are not; but you will be lonely, lonely, all your poor life long.

There is no place in this world for us poor women.