CHAPTER X. DR JOHN.

gtouchedthebrooch,ring,orscissors.Carryingonthehollowsystem,themotherwouldcalmlyassumeanairofbelief,andafterwardsceaselesslywatchanddogthechildtillshetrackedher:toherhiding-places—someholeinthegarden-wall—somechinkorcrannyingarretorout-house.Thisdone,MadamewouldsendDésiréeoutforawalkwithherbonne,andprofitbyherabsencetorobtherobber.Désiréeprovedherselfthetruedaughterofherastuteparent,byneversufferingeitherhercountenanceormannertobetraytheleastsignofmortificationondiscoveringtheloss. Thesecondchild,Fifine,wassaidtobelikeitsdeadfather.Certainly,thoughthemotherhadgivenitherhealthyframe,herblueeyeandruddycheek,notfromherwasderiveditsmoralbeing.Itwasanhonest,gleefullittlesoul:apassionate,warm-tempered,bustlingcreatureitwastoo,andofthesortlikelytoblunderoftenintoperilsanddifficulties.OnedayitbethoughtitselftofallfromtoptobottomofasteepflightofstonestepsandwhenMadame,hearingthenoise(shealwaysheardeverynoise),issuedfromthesalle-à-mangerandpickeditup,shesaidquietly,—“Cetenfantaunoscassé.” Atfirstwehopedthiswasnotthecase.Itwas,however,buttootrue:onelittleplumparmhungpowerless. “LetMeess”(meaningme)“takeher,”saidMadame“etqu’onailletoutdesuitechercherunfiacre.” Inafiacreshepromptly,butwithadmirablecoolnessandself-possession,departedtofetchasurgeon. Itappearedshedidnotfindthefamily-surgeonathomebutthatmatterednot:shesoughtuntilshelaidherhandonasubstitutetohermind,andbroughthimbackwithher.MeantimeIhadcutthechild’ssleevefromitsarm,undressedandputittobed. Wenoneofus,Isuppose(byweImeanthebonne,thecook,theportress,andmyself,allwhichpersonageswerenowgatheredinthesmallandheatedchamber),lookedveryscrutinizinglyatthenewdoctorwhenhecameintotheroom.I,atleast,wastakenupwithendeavouringtosootheFifinewhosecries(forshehadgoodlungs)wereappallingtohear.Thesecriesredoubledinintensityasthestrangerapproachedherbedwhenhetookherup,“Letalone!”shecriedpassionately,inherbrokenEnglish(forshespokeEnglishasdidtheotherchildren).“Iwillnotyou:IwillDr.Pillule!” “AndDr.Pilluleismyverygoodfriend,”wastheanswer,inperfectEnglish“butheisbusyataplacethreeleaguesoff,andIamcomeinhisstead.Sonow,whenwegetalittlecalmer,wemustcommencebusinessandwewillsoonhavethatunluckylittlearmbandagedandinrightorder.” Hereuponhecalledforaglassofeausucrée,fedherwithsometeaspoonfulsofthesweetliquid(Fifinewasafrankgourmandeanybodycouldwinherheartthroughherpalate),promisedhermorewhentheoperationshouldbeover,andpromptlywenttowork.Someassistancebeingneeded,hedemandeditofthecook,arobust,strong-armedwomanbutshe,theportress,andthenurseinstantlyfled.Ididnotliketotouchthatsmall,torturedlimb,butthinkingtherewasnoalter