that wants
polishing."

"I thought you were a baron," said Sylvie to the colonel, while the
cards were being dealt, and after a long pause in which they had all
been rather thoughtful.

"Yes; but when I was made baron, in 1814, after the battle of Nangis,
where my regiment performed miracles, I had money and influence enough
to secure the rank. But now my barony is like the grade of general which
I held in 1815,--it needs a revolution to give it back to me."

"If you will secure my endorsement by a mortgage," said Rogron,
answering Vinet after long consideration, "I will give it."

"That can easily be arranged," said Vinet. "The new paper will soon
restore the colonel's rights, and make your salon more powerful in
Provins than those of Tiphaine and company."

"How so?" asked Sylvie.

While his wife was dealing and Vinet himself explaining the importance
they would all gain by the publication of an independent newspaper,
Pierrette was dissolved in tears; her heart and her mind were one in
this matter; she felt and knew that her cousin was more to blame than
she was. The little country girl instinctively understood that charity
and benevolence ought to be a complete offering. She hated her handsome
frocks and all the things that were made for her; she was forced to pay
too dearly for such benefits. She wept with vexation at having given
cause for complaint against her, and resolved to behave in future in
such a way as to compel her cousins to find no further fault with her.
The thought then came into her mind how grand Brigaut had been in giving
her all his savings without a word. Poor child! she fancied her troubles
were now at their worst; she little knew that other misfortunes were
even now being planned for her in the salon.

A few days later Pierrette had a writing-master. She was taught to read,
write, and cipher. Enormous injury was thus supposed to be done to the
Rogrons' house. Ink-spots were found on the tables, on the furniture,
on Pierrette's clothes; copy-books and pens were left about; sand was
scattered everywhere, books were torn and dog's-eared as the result of
these lessons. She was told in harsh terms that she would have to earn
her own living, and not be a burden to others. As she listened to these
cruel remarks Pierrette's throat contracted violently with acute pain,
her heart throbbed. She was forced to restrain her tears, or she was
scolded for weeping and told it was an insult to the kindne