refusal that burst from Eustacie: 'Part with my child! leave her
to her enemies!--never! never! Hold your tongue, Perrine! I will
not hear of such a thing!'

'But, Madame, hear reason. She will pass for one of Simonette's!'

'She shall pass for none but mine!--I part with thee, indeed! All
that is left me of thy father!--the poor little orphaned innocent,
that no one loves but her mother!'

'Madame--Mademoiselle, this is not common sense! Why, how can you
hide yourself? how travel with a baby on your neck, whose crying
may betray you?'

'She never cries--never, never! And better I were betrayed than
she.'

'If it were a boy---' began Perrine.

'If it were a boy, there would be plenty to care for it. I should
not care for it half so much. As for my poor little lonely girl,
whom every one wishes away but her mother--ah! yes, baby, thy
mother will go through fire and water for thee yet. Never fear,
thou shalt not leave her!'

'No nurse can go with Madame. Simonette could not leave her home.'

'What needs a nurse when she has me?'

'But, Madame,' proceeded the old woman, out of patience, 'you are