In the dressing room Zoe sat helpless on a chair, crying her heart out, while Satin vainly endeavored to console her.
"What's the matter ?" said Nana in surprise.
"Oh, darling, do speak to her!" said Satin.

"I've been trying to make her listen to reason for the last twenty minutes.

She's crying because you called her a goose." "Yes, madame, it's very hard--very hard," stuttered Zoe, choked by a fresh fit of sobbing.
This sad sight melted the young woman's heart at once.

She spoke kindly, and when the other woman still refused to grow calm she sank down in front of her and took her round the waist with truly cordial familiarity: "But, you silly, I said 'goose' just as I might have said anything else.
How shall I explain?
I was in a passion--it was wrong of me; now calm down." "I who love Madame so," stuttered Zoe; "after all I've done for Madame." Thereupon Nana kissed the lady's maid and, wishing to show her she wasn't vexed, gave her a dress she had worn three times.

Their quarrels always ended up in the giving of presents! Zoe plugged her handkerchief into her eyes.