At one end of the room sat Helene and some other ladies laughing at the scene which the table presented; all the rosy mouths were eating with the full strength of their beautiful white teeth.  And nothing could eclipse in drollery the occasional lapses from the polished behavior of well-bred children to the outrageous freaks of young savages.  With both hands gripping their glasses, they drank to the very dregs, smeared their faces, and stained their dresses.  The clamor grew worse.  The last of the dishes were plundered.  Jeanne herself began dancing on her chair as she heard the strains of a quadrille coming from the drawing-room; and on her mother approaching to upbraid her with having eaten too much, she replied:  “Oh! mamma, I feel so happy to-day!”

But now the other children were rising as they heard the music.  Slowly the table thinned, until there only remained a fat, chubby infant right in the middle.  He seemingly cared little for the attractions of the piano; with a napkin round his neck, and his chin resting on the tablecloth—­for he was a mere chit—­he opened his big eyes, and protruded his lips each time that his mamma offered him a spoonful of chocolate.  The contents of the cup vanished, and he licked his lips as the last mouthful went down his throat, with eyes more agape than ever.

“By Jove! my lad, you eat heartily!” exclaimed Malignon, who was watching him with a thoughtful air.

Now came the division of the “surprise” packets.  Each child, on leaving the table, bore away one of the large gilt paper twists, the coverings of which were hastily torn off and from them poured forth a host of toys, grotesque hats made of tissue paper, birds and butterflies.  But the joy of joys was the possession of a cracker.  Every “surprise” packet had its cracker; and these the lads pulled at gallantly, delighted with the noise, while the girls shut their eyes, making many tries before the explosion took place.  For a time the sharp crackling of all this musketry alone could be heard; and the uproar was still lasting when the children returned to the drawing-room, where lively quadrille music resounded from the piano.

“I could enjoy a cake,” murmured Mademoiselle Aurelie, as she sat down.

At the table, which was now deserted, but covered with all the litter of the huge feast, a few ladies—­some dozen or so, who had preferred to wait till the children had retired—­now sat down.  As no servant could be found, Malignon bustled hither and thither in attendance.  He poured out all that remained in the chocolate pot, shook up the dregs of the bottles, and was even successful in discovering some ices.  But amidst all these gallant doings of his, he could not quit one idea, and that was—­why had they decided on closing the shutters?

“You know,” he asserted, “the place looks like a cellar.”

Helene had remained standing, engaged in conversation with Madame Deberle.  As the latter directed her steps towards the drawing-room, her companion prepared to follow, when she felt a gentle touch.  Behind her was the doctor, smiling; he was ever near her.