Monsieur shrugged his shoulders and pulled his gray beard thoughtfully.

Madame threw up her hands at the end of each sentence like horrified little exclamation points.

But when Joyce had told the entire story neither of them had a word of blame, because their sympathies were so thoroughly aroused for Jules.
"I shall ask Monsieur Ciseaux to allow the child to visit here sometimes," said madame, her kind old heart full of pity for the motherless little fellow; "and I shall also explain that it was only your desire to save Jules from ill treatment that caused you to do such an unusual thing.

Otherwise he might think you too bold and too--well, peculiar, to be a fit playmate for his little nephew." "Oh, was it really so improper and horrid of me, madame ?" asked Joyce, anxiously.
Madame hesitated.

"The circumstances were some excuse," she finally admitted.