smiled; the little wrinkles of her face (there were a vast number of
them!) also smiled; her mouth smiled likewise, but only on one side.
I discovered afterwards that was her best side. She spoke: her
voice had also changed with her manner; it was now sweet as honey.

"You said, Monsieur, that our dear Jeanne was very intelligent. I
discovered the same thing myself, and I am proud of being able to
agree with you. This young girl has really made me feel a great deal
of interest in her. She has what I call a happy disposition....
But excuse me for thus drawing upon your valuable time."

She summoned the servant-girl, who looked much more hurried and
scared than before, and who vanished with the order to go and tell
Mademoiselle Alexandre that Monsieur Sylvestre Bonnard, Member of
the Institute, was waiting to see her in the parlour.

Mademoiselle Prefere had barely time to confide in me that she had
the most profound respect for all decisions of the Institute--whatever
they might be--when Jeanne appeared, out of breath, red as a poppy,
with her eyes very wide open, and her arms dangling helplessly at
her sides--charming in her artless awkwardness.

"What a state you are in, my dear child!" murmured Mademoiselle
Prefere, with maternal sweetness, as she arranged the girl's collar.

Jeanne certainly did present an odd aspect. Her hair combed back,
and imperfectly held by a net from which loose curls were escaping;
her slender arms, sheathed down to the elbows in lustring sleeves;
her hands, which she did not seem to know what to do with, all red
with chillblains; her dress, much too short, revealing that she had