I
wonder why."

The girl rose also, still with her hopeless, abstracted air, and
followed the mother, who led the way to the door. Seeing her move
forward, my wife uttered an admiring exclamation.

"She is more beautiful than I thought," she said. "She holds herself
marvelously. She moves with the freedom of some fine wild creature."

And, as the party disappeared from view, her regret at losing them drew
from her a sigh. She discussed them with characteristic enthusiasm all
the way home. She even concocted a very probable little romance. One
would always imagine so many things concerning Americans. They were so
extraordinary a people; they acquired wealth by such peculiar means;
their country was so immense; their resources were so remarkable. These
persons, for instance, were evidently persons of wealth, and as plainly
had risen from the people. The mother was not quite so wholly untaught
as the other two, but she was more objectionable.

"One can bear with the large simplicity of utter ignorance," said my
fair philosopher. "One frequently finds it gentle and unworldly, but the
other is odious because it is always aggressive and narrow."

She had taken a strong feminine dislike to Madame la Mere.

"She makes her family miserable," she said. "She drags them from place
to place. Possibly there is a lover,--more possibly than not. The girl's
eyes wore a peculiar look,--as if they searched for something far away."

She had scarcely concluded her charming little harangue when we reached
our destination; but, as we passed through the entrance, she paused to
speak to the curly-headed child of the _concierge_ whose mother held him
by the hand.

"We shall have new arrivals to-morrow," said the good woman, who was
always ready for friendly gossip. "The apartment upon the first floor,"
and she nodded to me significantly, and with good-natured encouragement.
"Perhaps you may get pupils," she added. "They are Americans, and speak
only English, and there is a young lady, Madame says."

"Americans!" exclaimed Clelie, with sudden interest.

"Americans," answered the _concierge_. "It was Madame who came. _Mon
Dieu!_ it was wonderful! So rich and so--so"--filling up the blank by a
shrug of deep meaning.

"It cannot have been long since they were--peasants," her voice dropping
into a cautious whisper.

"Why not our friends of the Louvre?" said Clelie as we went on
up-stairs.

"Why not?" I replied. "It is very possible."