He made a gesture in token of assent.  There had long since been a passing fancy between them.  He had been nineteen at the time, and she two-and-twenty.  He had then but just entered life, and she was already married.  But a few months later he had fallen in love with Marianne, and had then entirely freed himself from her.

“All over—­really?” she again inquired, smiling but aggressive.

She was looking very beautiful and bold, seeking to tempt him and carry him off from that silly little cousin of hers, whose tears would simply have made her laugh.  And as Mathieu did not this time give her any answer, even by a wave of the hand, she went on:  “I prefer that:  don’t reply:  don’t say that it is all over.  You might make a mistake, you know.”

For a moment Mathieu’s eyes flashed, then he closed them in order that he might no longer see Seraphine, who was leaning towards him.  It seemed as if all the past were coming back.  She almost pressed her lips to his as she whispered that she still loved him; and when he drew back, full of mingled emotion and annoyance, she raised her little hand to his mouth as if she feared that he was again going to say no.

“Be quiet,” said she; “they are coming.”

The Moranges were now indeed returning with Reine, whose hair had been curled.  The child looked quite delicious in her frock of rose silk decked with white lace, and her large hat trimmed with some of the dress material.  Her gay round face showed with flowery delicacy under the rose silk.

“Oh, what a love!” exclaimed Seraphine by way of pleasing the parents.  “Somebody will be stealing her from me, you know.”

Then it occurred to her to kiss the child in passionate fashion, feigning the emotion of a woman who regrets that she is childless.  “Yes; indeed one regrets it very much when one sees such a treasure as this sweet girl of yours.  Ah! if one could only be sure that God would give one such a charming child—­well, at all events, I shall steal her from you; you need not expect me to bring her back again.”

The enraptured Moranges laughed delightedly.  And Mathieu, who knew her well, listened in stupefaction.  How many times during their short and passionate attachment had she not inveighed against children!  In her estimation maternity poisoned love, aged woman, and made a horror of her in the eyes of man.

The Moranges accompanied her and Reine to the landing.  And they could not find words warm enough to express their happiness at seeing such coveted wealth and luxury come to seek their daughter.  When the door of the flat was closed Valerie darted on to the balcony, exclaiming, “Let us see them drive off.”

Morange, who no longer gave a thought to the office, took up a position near her, and called Mathieu and compelled him likewise to lean over and look down.  A well-appointed victoria was waiting below with a superb-looking coachman motionless on the box-seat.  This sight put a finishing touch to the excitement of the Moranges.  When Seraphine had installed the little girl beside her, they laughed aloud.