“Come, be quick,” whispered Madame Deberle.  “The Abbe told me you would be coming, and I kept two chairs for you.”

Helene thanked her, and, to cut the conversation short, at once began turning over the leaves of her missal.  But Juliette was as worldly here as elsewhere; as much at her ease, as agreeable and talkative, as in her drawing-room.  She bent her head towards Helene and resumed: 

“You have become quite invisible.  I intended to pay you a visit to-morrow.  Surely you haven’t been ill, have you?”

“No, thank you.  I’ve been very busy.”

“Well, listen to me.  You must come and dine with us to-morrow.  Quite a family dinner, you know.”

“You are very kind.  We will see.”

She seemed to retire within herself, intent on following the service, and on saying nothing more.  Pauline had taken Jeanne beside her that she might be nearer the hot-air flue over which she toasted herself luxuriously, as happy as any chilly mortal could be.  Steeped in the warm air, the two girls raised themselves inquisitively and gazed around on everything, the low ceiling with its woodwork panels, the squat pillars, connected by arches from which hung chandeliers, and the pulpit of carved oak; and over the ocean of heads which waved with the rise and fall of the canticle, their eyes wandered towards the dark corners of the aisles, towards the chapels whose gilding faintly gleamed, and the baptistery enclosed by a railing near the chief entrance.  However, their gaze always returned to the resplendent choir, decorated with brilliant colors and dazzling gilding.  A crystal chandelier, flaming with light, hung from the vaulted ceiling; immense candelabra, filled with rows of wax tapers, that glittered amidst the gloom of the church like a profusion of stars in orderly array, brought out prominently the high altar, which seemed one huge bouquet of foliage and flowers.  Over all, standing amidst a profusion of roses, a Virgin, dressed in satin and lace, and crowned with pearls, was holding a Jesus in long clothes on her arm.

“I say, are you warm?” asked Pauline.  “It’s nice, eh?”

But Jeanne, in ecstasy, was gazing on the Virgin amongst the flowers.  The scene thrilled her.  A fear crept over her that she might do something wrong, and she lowered her eyes in the endeavor to restrain her tears by fixing her attention on the black-and-white pavement.  The vibrations of the choir-boys’ shrill voices seemed to stir her tresses like puffs of air.

Meanwhile Helene, with face bent over her prayer-book, drew herself away whenever Juliette’s lace rustled against her.  She was in no wise prepared for this meeting.  Despite the vow she had sworn within herself, to be ever pure in her love for Henri, and never yield to him, she felt great discomfort at the thought that she was a traitoress to the confiding, happy woman who sat by her side.  She was possessed by one idea—­she would not go to that dinner.  She sought for reasons which would enable her to break off these relations so hateful to her honor.  But the swelling voices of the choristers, so near to her, drove all reflection from her mind; she could decide on no precise course, and surrendered herself to the soothing influences of the chant, tasting a pious joy such as she had never before found inside a church.