the silver helmets of champagne bottles, no higher than one’s hand, made specially to suit the little guests.  It all looked like one of those gigantic feasts which children conjure up in dreamland—­a feast served with the solemnity that attends a repast of grown-up folks—­a fairy transformation of the table to which their own parents sat down, and on which the horns of plenty of innumerable pastry-cooks and toy dealers had been emptied.

“Come, come, give the ladies your arms!” said Madame Deberle, her face covered with smiles as she watched the delight of the children.

But the filing off in couples proved a lure.  Lucien, who had triumphantly taken Jeanne’s arm, went first.  But the others following behind fell somewhat into confusion, and the mothers were forced to come and assign them places, remaining close at hand, especially behind the babies, whom they watched lest any mischance should befall them.  Truth to tell, the guests at first seemed rather uncomfortable; they looked at one another, felt afraid to lay hands on the good things, and were vaguely disquieted by this new social organization in which everything appeared to be topsy-turvy, the children seated at table while their parents remained standing.  At length the older ones gained confidence and commenced the attack.  And when the mothers entered into the fray, and cut up the large cakes, helping those in their vicinity, the feast speedily became very animated and noisy.  The exquisite symmetry of the table was destroyed as though by a tempest.  The two Berthier girls, Blanche and Sophie, laughed at the sight of their plates, which had been filled with something of everything—­jam, custard, cake, and fruit.  The five young ladies of the Levasseur family took sole possession of a corner laden with dainties, while Valentine, proud of her fourteen years, acted the lady’s part, and looked after the comfort of her little neighbors.  Lucien, however, impatient to display his politeness, uncorked a bottle of champagne, but in so clumsy a way that the whole contents spurted over his cherry silk breeches.  There was quite a to-do about it.

“Kindly leave the bottles alone!  I am to uncork the champagne,” shouted Pauline.

She bustled about in an extraordinary fashion, purely for her own amusement.  On the entry of a servant with the chocolate pot, she seized it and filled the cups with the greatest glee, as active in the performance as any restaurant waiter.  Next she took round some ices and glasses of syrup and water, set them down for a moment to stuff a little baby-girl who had been overlooked, and then went off again, asking every one questions.

“What is it you wish, my pet?  Eh?  A cake?  Yes, my darling, wait a moment; I am going to pass you the oranges.  Now eat away, you little stupids, you shall play afterwards.”

Madame Deberle, calm and dignified, declared that they ought to be left alone, and would acquit themselves very well.