"No. I prefer that," said Margot.
Grandmother telephoned to Auntie Sue. It was arranged that Jeanne was tobe spared for that one day--Margot's birthday.
A day in the woods was planned with a picnic and a boat ride, but, bestof all, with Jeanne and Pierrot.
The morning of Margot's birthday arrived. As the little girl opened hereyes, a dismal sight met them.
The gray sky was pouring down bucketsful of rain. The morning was asgray and dark as a rainy morning can be. Margot saw her day in the woodsspoiled, and she started to cry.
But Grandmother arranged that Jeanne was to come to the apartment.
Margot's pout did not make of her a very happy looking birthday girl.But she had to be satisfied with these plans.
"It would have been so nice to play in the Bois," she sulked.
"Yes, cherie," said Grandmother, "but we cannot change the weather."
And so in front of a crackling fire in Margot's toy stuffed nursery, thetwo little girls spent the day.
Margot met Jeanne with, "Isn't it too bad?"
But Jeanne could find nothing to feel sorry about.
"Oh, what a beautiful fire!" she exclaimed.
And after a little while, Margot began to be glad that the day wasrainy, because Jeanne was glad.
CHAPTER XVI
"I WANT TO PLAY"
Auntie Sue worked very hard. She now had several large orders to fill.
She was finishing Madame Villard's order to-day, and she hoped to bringthe little dresses to the apartment that evening.
Jeanne was spending Margot's birthday at the Villard apartment. SoSuzanne determined to deliver the dresses and fetch Jeanne when the daywas over.
She worked steadily and tried to banish thoughts and voices inside ofher. Since Madame Villard's visit to the shop, Suzanne had not had amoment's peace from Conscience.
It was only the thought that Jeanne really loved to show the prettyclothes that kept Suzanne the least bit happy.
She answered Conscience thus: "But see how happy the child is when Igive her a new frock to show! She knows, too, that she is the envy ofevery child in Paris!"
And Conscience always replied, "Perhaps. But maybe she is telling youthat. Maybe she is really like any other child who wants and needs toplay!"
This was the thing that always caused Auntie Sue to shudder. If she hadthought that Jeanne cared, she could never have gone on asking her towork. She hoped that Jeanne did not like to play and did not mind beingdifferent from other children.
Always this hope made Auntie Sue argue with the voice. You see, AuntieSue tried to believe that Jeanne was glad to be a live puppet!
Two little girls played and chatted before a crackling fire. While theysat in Margot's cheerful, rosy room, they made journeys throughout theland of France.
Stories and stories and stories!
Once Pierrot was a soldier, and they played the Great War. Margot andJeanne were nurses. Through battlefields of France they took theirfancies.
Margot had motored many times with Grandmother throughout the valley ofthe war. She had passed villages, gray and ruined. She had passedvillages, new and shiny, with American flags flying beside the French.
AMERICAN FLAGS FLYING BESIDE THE FRENCH]
She had passed American cemeteries, with thousands of little whitecrosses like snow upon the ground. There were brown crosses, too, andhuge stone monuments to soldiers.
AMERICAN CEMETERY NEAR ROMAGNE]
There was one monument built around a line of bayonets where a companyof soldiers had been buried alive by an enemy bomb. Their bayonetsstill show above the ground.
HUGE STONE MONUMENT TO SOLDIERS]
She had seen great tanks along the roadside--barbed wire and trenches.
SHE HAD SEEN GREAT TANKS ALONG THE ROADSIDE]
Through beautiful France the little girl had journeyed withGrandmother. Through the famous wine country--the lands of Burgundy(bur'-g[)u]n-d[)i]), Champagne (sh[)a]m-p[=a]n'), and Dijon(d[=e]-zhon'), the city of churches, palaces, and famous mustard theyjourneyed!
Along the road sat women knitting or sorting and cleaning the cotton oftheir mattresses. They were washing in little outdoor water troughsalong the roadway.
AN OLD WOMAN CLEANING THE COTTON OF A MATTRESS]
The children made a play for every part of France. They made one forevery French character they had ever heard about. Jeanne could weave aplay about anything, and Margot could not help saying, "What a pity youdo not have more time to play!"
At this moment the doorbell rang. Auntie Sue was ushered into the hallby the Villard maid. Auntie Sue had come to deliver her parcel and tofetch Jeanne.
"Madame Villard is not in," said the maid, "but the children are in thenursery. Would you like to go to them?"
Thus it happened that Auntie Sue arrived at the nursery door in time tohear the two little girls discussing a serious question.
Auntie Sue did not want to eavesdrop. She would not have listened to thechildren if she could have helped herself. But the fact of the matterwas that Auntie Sue became rooted to the floor, and she could not move.
For the first thing she heard was Jeanne's voice saying, "Oh, Margot! Ihate all those silly clothes! I hate being a model. I want to be just alittle girl."
Jeanne's voice was bitter. Is it any wonder that Auntie Sue could notmove from the spot on which she was standing? She grasped the door knobto keep herself from falling.
CHAMPAGNE VINEYARDS NEAR EPERNAY]
Then the conversation went on.
"Then why do you do it?" asked Margot's voice.
"Because," came Jeanne's, "I dare not tell Auntie. She works so hardand takes such good care of me. You see, I have no mother and father."
There was silence, and then Jeanne's voice went on, "My papa was asoldier. But Auntie does not know where he fell."
Again silence and then Margot said, "I think your aunt would let youplay if you would ask her to."
"No," Jeanne replied, "I would not ask her. I must show the clothes. Shecould not sell them if I did not show them first."
There was a short silence and then again came Jeanne's voice, "I justwant to be a little girl. I want to play!" The last word ended in a sob.
For the next few moments Auntie Sue did not hear anything. Indeed shehardly knew anything, so stunned and shocked was she.
Auntie Sue did not know how it was that she ever opened the door. Shedid not know how she ever came to leave that apartment.
It was fortunate that Madame Villard and Margot's mother were out.Children do not always notice things the way grown people do.
But Margot wondered, after Jeanne and her aunt had left, why AuntieSue's eyes had been so big and frightened and why she had hardly saidgood-bye.
CHAPTER XVII
A CALL FOR HELP
Major d'Artrot called to his wife, "Come; see! A letter has arrivedwhich calls me to Paris. I must leave at once."
Madame d'Artrot read the letter.
"Dear, dear Major d'Artrot," it said, "You are my only friend, and I must ask you to come to my aid. I am in trouble. I need help and I am ill. Please come to me.
Suzanne Moreau."
"Why, that is Auntie Sue," said Madame d'Artrot, a surprised note in hervoice. "She has such a successful shop, I am told. What can be thematter?"
A DIJON MUSTARD SHOP]
"That is what I shall find out soon," answered the Major. And he madehasty preparations to leave for Paris.
When Major d'Artrot returned to his farm two days later, he brought withhim a little girl.
Jeanne was a very white-faced little girl.
Major d'Artrot said, "I have brought little Jeanne to be our guest untilher aunt is better."
And all the little d'Artrots flocked about Jeanne and tried to make herfeel at home.
It was all so strange to little Jeanne from the city. She had been takenaway from Auntie--Auntie, who lay
ill and needed her.
But the Major told her to come. He told her that Auntie wished her tocome with him. If Auntie wished it, Jeanne must go. But otherwise shewould never--could never--have left poor sick Auntie Sue.
Once outside in the fresh, pure country air, Jeanne began to forget alittle. With rabbits and dogs and cats about her and the merrychattering of the Major's children, she could not help it.
Jeanne's eyes were alive, and her heart was gay. She was one of thelittle fairies of play, and that kind of fairy cannot remain sad forlong.
Besides, the Major's children had games and playthings of which Jeannehad never before heard. Even Pierrot was excited. It was all Jeannecould do to hold him from jumping into the little stream.
Jeanne soon had the young d'Artrots acquainted with Pierrot. Indeed, theyoung d'Artrots fell quite in love with sprightly Pierrot.
WASHING IN OUTDOOR WATER TROUGHS]
In the meantime the Major recounted to his wife the happenings which hadbefallen him in Paris.
"Poor woman!" he told Madame d'Artrot, as he described Suzanne'splight. "She is ill because of the wrong she committed so many yearsago. She could tell nobody about it.
"But she finally discovered that Jeanne was unhappy, and that was toomuch for her to bear. She realized then that she was being punished forher wrong. And so she decided that before it was too late she wouldconfess!"
"So she told you this terrible story?" asked Madame d'Artrot.
"Yes, and asked me to see Madame Villard," replied the Major.
"And when will you break this news to Madame?" the Major's wifeinquired.
"I have already done so," he answered quietly. "That is, I called uponMadame Villard before leaving Paris. I told her that I had traced herlost grandchild. I told her that I wished her to come to our hometo-morrow. But I did not tell her any more."
"Ah, poor Madame Villard! How happy I am for her! What a joy this willbe for her!" sighed Madame d'Artrot.
The Major smiled and agreed with his wife.
"And what a joy for this poor little play-starved child!" he said,looking out of the window at the happy band of children.
They were romping and making the air ring with glad sounds.
The next morning Jeanne arose early. Being on a farm was something sodifferent and thrilling to this child of the city that every noiseoutside her window seemed to call her.
She put on her little black apron and went out into the brisk countryair.
The farm animals greeted her, and the little stream gurgled goodmorning. This was the most beautiful feeling that life had ever givenJeanne.
She skipped about the farm, seeing and feeling and smelling the country,freshness, and morning. It was beautiful.
And then she thought of Auntie Sue. Ah, poor Auntie Sue! If only shecould be here with Jeanne! If only they could forget that shop and cometo a place like this! Why hadn't Auntie Sue ever told her about placeslike this?
As Jeanne's thoughts flew, her little feet flew, too. Soon she foundherself walking along the country road. New wonders met her eyes andears and nose with every step. Her sadness was nearly forgotten, untilshe stopped.
There, in front of Jeanne, were countless crosses--crossed of white,crosses of brown, all in rows.
Margot had told her about the soldiers' burying grounds in the Argonneand in other places of France. This was a soldiers' burying ground.
THIS WAS A SOLDIERS' BURYING GROUND]
The little girl stood and wondered.
She wondered about her own soldier father.
Just then, a big motor car stopped not far away, and Jeanne watched ablack-gowned lady and child step out. They carried flowers in theirarms. They went to a little brown cross and they knelt.
The tears welled up in Jeanne's eyes. Ah, how she, too needed to pray!How she needed a little brown cross to kneel to--to talk to!
Everything was making Jeanne cry. She was wondering again about AuntieSue. How strangely Auntie had acted! And she had sent Jeanne away!
CHAPTER XVIII
MARGOT'S STORY
"Come. Tell me. Quick!" Madame Villard breezed into the Major's housewith Margot following. They were both breathless, excited. "What haveyou found out, dear Major? Tell me."
Major d'Artrot bade the eager grandmother be seated and rest herself.Then he asked one of his own little girls to take Margot outside.
"We can't find the little girl," said the Major's eldest to Margot, whenthey were outside in the garden. "When we came out this morning she wasgone."
"What little girl?" asked Margot.
"Why, Jeanne," said the Major's daughter. "That little girl from thecity. Papa brought her here last night."
When Margot learned that it was Jeanne--Auntie Sue's Jeanne, "the littlemodel"--she rushed into the house.
"Oh, Grandmother, Jeanne was here. But now she is gone," she cried.
The Major looked astonished.
Grandmother had been crying.
"What is that you say, my dear?" asked the Major. "She is gone?"
"Yes. The children cannot find her."
Then the Major left Grandmother and Margot alone, while he went out tosearch for Jeanne.
And Grandmother held Margot very close, while she repeated the talethat the Major had just told her.
"And so, my dear little Margot," she added, "Jeanne is your own cousin."
Margot could not speak. Her heart was too full. She only huggedGrandmother like a little bear. Then, more like a swift jack rabbit, sheflew out of the house. She flew out in search of Jeanne, her owncousin.
All the d'Artrots were looking for Jeanne, but Margot came upon herfirst.
Jeanne was kneeling beside a crooked little brown cross. There wereflowers on it.
Jeanne had made the crooked little brown cross herself, and she waspraying. She had made it for her soldier daddy.
JEANNE WAS KNEELING BESIDE A CROOKED LITTLE BROWN CROSS]
Margot came up behind Jeanne.
"What are you doing, Jeanne?" she asked.
Jeanne thought she had never before seen Margot's face this way. Itseemed that Margot was about to cry, but not the usual Margot cry.
She was not acting spoiled. She was not commanding anything. She seemedso sweet and kind and sympathetic.
"I--I was praying," said Jeanne. "But what are you doing here, Margot?"
Margot sat down beside the little, black-aproned figure and tookJeanne's hand.
"I came to play with you, Jeanne," she said. "I came to tell you about anew play."
Jeanne could not understand it at all.
With head bent, she whispered, "But Margot dear, I have not broughtPierrot. We cannot play without Pierrot."
Margot answered, "We do not need Pierrot for this play. You see thereis only one heroine, and that is you."
Then Margot told a story to Jeanne--a curious story of a little baby whowas kept away from her grandmother and her cousin. Yes; the baby wasreally kept for a number of years from a home of love and protection andmade to work. She had very little time to play. She did not even knowher real name. How could she? It had never been told to her.
THEN MARGOT TOLD A STORY TO JEANNE]
She told Jeanne of another little girl who lived in that home and hadeverything. The other little girl could have played always but didn'tknow how. She didn't know how to play until the first little girl cameand showed her how.
Then Margot told about a kind man who received a letter from a sick ladytelling what a terrible deed she had done.
The lady begged the kind man to take the little girl to his home in thecountry and then to send for her grandmother and little cousin.
So he did. And when the grandmother and little cousin arrived, theyfound that the child was Jeanne!
Jeanne started, and her eyes grew big and round.
Margot put her arm about Jeanne's shoulders. Just then they heard astep.
There was Grandmother Villard standing among a group of young d'Artrots.Grandmot
her left the group and came over to the two little girls.
She took Jeanne in her arms. She cried.
SHE TOOK JEANNE IN HER ARMS]
And then she said, "Jeanne, my little one! My own little grandchild!"
The d'Artrots left, and Jeanne and Margot and Grandmother sat togetherfor a long time. They sat silently.
But suddenly Jeanne exclaimed, "Oh, poor Auntie Sue! I must go to her. Imust go."
Grandmother held her back.
"No," she said. "Auntie Sue is all right, Jeanne. She only wants you tobe happy."
"Ah, but how can poor Auntie Sue sell the dresses now, when I am notthere to show them for her?" asked Jeanne.
"She will not have to sell dresses any more," said Grandmother."Grandmother will ask Auntie Sue to live with us always, Jeanne, if--"
"If what, Grandmother?"
"If you want her to," continued Madame Villard.
"Oh, poor dear Auntie Sue!" cried Jeanne. "She has been kind and good tome. She could not help doing what she did. I love Auntie Sue, and I wanther to live with us always and always!"
"You are a good little girl, Jeanne. Your father would have been proudof you," said Grandmother softly.
Then Grandmother continued, and her voice was husky, "You have been asbrave a soldier as he, Jeanne."
Grandmother arose. The two little girls followed her to the white dottedgraveyard. They knelt before one of the white slabs. Jeanne saw her ownfather's name in letters before her. She tried to pray and to keep hereyes on those words, "Paul Villard." But the letters ran together.