"Adieu, Messieurs,' said the old woman, 'au revoir!' and she spoke with an alacrity of tone that indicated she was not sorry to be relieved of their presence.
"Julie arose also, and taking up her hat, stood smoothing round the nap, which was ruffled by the rain, with the back of her hand. The men paused a moment, apparently thinking she meant to accompany them, but she seemed intent upon repairing the disarrangement of her hat, so saying once more, 'Adieu, Madame! Adieu, Monsieur' they took their leave.
"The old woman raised her eyes from her knitting, and looked at her over her spectacles, as much as to say, 'Eh bien! why don't you go too?' But Julie stood still by the fire, turning her hat about in her hand, with an air of perplexity and depression.
"'Vous ne retournez pas coucher chez Madame la Comtesse?' at length said the hostess.
"'Alas! no,' replied Julie.
"'But you have friends?'
"'I have some,' returned Julie,—'mais'—
"'A mother?' inquired the old woman.
"'Alas! no,' answered Julie, despondingly.
"'Comment?' is it that you are afraid of your friends' displeasure when they learn you have been turned away?'
