was because she had persevered in going out in all weathers, after
confining herself to two warm rooms for so long; and very probably this
was really the cause, for, from Pierre's account, she must have been
suffering from a feverish cold, aggravated, no doubt, by her impatience
at Madame Babette's familiar prohibitions of any more walks until she was
better. Every day, in spite of her trembling, aching limbs, she would
fain have arranged her dress for her walk at the usual time; but Madame
Babette was fully prepared to put physical obstacles in her way, if she
was not obedient in remaining tranquil on the little sofa by the side of
the fire. The third day, she called Pierre to her, when his mother was
not attending (having, in fact, locked up Mademoiselle Cannes' out-of-
door things).

"'See, my child,' said Virginie. 'Thou must do me a great favour. Go to
the gardener's shop in the Rue des Bons-Enfans, and look at the nosegays
in the window. I long for pinks; they are my favourite flower. Here are
two francs. If thou seest a nosegay of pinks displayed in the window, if
it be ever so faded--nay, if thou seest two or three nosegays of pinks,
remember, buy them all, and bring them to me, I have so great a desire
for the smell.' She fell back weak and exhausted. Pierre hurried out.
Now was the time; here was the clue to the long inspection of the nosegay
in this very shop.

"Sure enough, there was a drooping nosegay of pinks in the window. Pierre
went in, and, with all his impatience, he made as good a bargain as he
could, urging that the flowers were faded, and good for nothing. At last
he purchased them at a very moderate price. And now you will learn the
bad consequences of teaching the lower orders anything beyond what is
immediately necessary to enable them to earn their daily bread! The
silly Count de Crequy,--he who had been sent to his bloody rest, by the