Rodolph,' I said, 'pray excuse me, but that will make me
lose another day's work and I have already got two to make up for.'
'Make yourself perfectly easy, my pretty neighbour,' said he, you will
find plenty of work at Madame Georges's, I promise you; she will prove
an excellent customer, I have no doubt, and I have particularly
recommended you to her.' 'Oh, that alters the case, M. Rodolph, then I'm
sure I shall be but too glad to go.' 'Adieu, neighbour,' said M.
Rodolph. 'Good-bye,' cried I, 'and many thanks for so kindly
recommending me.'

"When Germain came, I told him all about it; so as we were quite sure M.
Rodolph would not send us upon any foolish errand, we set off as blithe
as birds. Only imagine, Louise, what a surprise awaited us on our
arrival! I declare I can scarcely think of it without tears of happiness
coming into my eyes. We went to the very Madame Georges you see walking
before us, and who should she turn out to be but the mother of Germain!"

"His mother?"

"Yes, his own very mother, from whom he had been taken when quite a
baby! You must try to fancy their mutual joy! Well, when Madame Georges
had wept over her son, and embraced and gazed at him a hundred times, my
turn came to be noticed.

"No doubt M. Rodolph had written something very favourable about me,
for, clasping me in her arms, she said, 'She was acquainted with my
conduct towards her son.' 'Then, mother,' interposed Germain, 'it only
rests with you to ask her, and Rigolette will be your child as well as
I.' 'And I do ask her to be my daughter with all my heart,' replied his
mother, 'for you will never find a better or a prettier creature to love
as your wife.'

"So there I was quite at home, in such a sweet farm, along with Germain,
his mother, and my birds; for I had taken the poor, little, dear things
with me, just to hear how delightedly they would sing when they found
themselves in the country. The days passed like a dream. I did only just
what I liked,--helped Madame Georges, walked about with Germain, and
danced and sung like a wild thing.

"Well, our marriage was fixed to take place on yesterday fortnight; the
evening before, who should arrive but a tall, elderly, bald-headed
gentleman, who looked so kind; and he brought me a _corbeille de
mariage_ from M. Rodolph. Only think, Louise, what a beauty it must have
been,--made like a large rosewood box, with these words written in
letters of gold, on medallion of blue china, '