"But I certainly should not want a little daughter of mine to be out after dark by herself on such a wild errand.

In this country a little girl would not think it possible to do such a thing." Joyce's face was very sober as she arose to leave the room.

"I do wish that I could be proper like little French girls," she said, with a sigh.
Madame drew her towards her, kissing her on both cheeks.

It was such an unusual thing for madame to do that Joyce could scarcely help showing some surprise.

Feeling that the caress was an assurance that she was not in disgrace, as she had feared, she ran up-stairs, so light-hearted that she sang on the way.
As the door closed behind her, monsieur reached for his pipe, saying, as he did so, "She has a heart of gold, the little mademoiselle." "Yes," assented madame; "but she is a strange little body, so untamed and original.