Part 8 (1/2)

He would say to Mother after Margot had left, ”Has the sun gone under a cloud, Marie? It seems darker to me.”

You see, he felt suns.h.i.+ne while his little daughter was there.

But the nurse would not allow frequent visits. Ah, Father might never be allowed to forget that bitter war!

So Grandmother played guardian to Margot. And a loving and indulgent guardian was she!

Margot could play from morning until night if she wanted to, except, of course, for school hours.

The nursery was filled with costly toys. They did not interest little Margot any more. There were so many of them.

In fact, little spoiled Margot was not interested in anything, because she had too much.

”Ah, well, cherie,” said Grandmother, ”you will think of something that Grandmother can do for your birthday. But to-morrow we shall go to buy the little party frock which I promised you.”

Frocks were of no more interest to Margot than toys. She had too many of those, also. So she hardly listened to Grandmother's last remark.

”I am going to take you to a shop where a little girl shows clothes to the people who come to buy--a real little model. You might call her a live puppet. My cherie will enjoy that, will she not?” asked Grandmother eagerly, hoping to interest the child in a new pleasure.

Evidently the idea did bring with it something new and exciting to Margot.

For she turned and asked, ”And does this little girl really walk about and pose, as people do on the stage?”

”Yes, cherie. So I hear,” answered Madame Villard.

”A live puppet!”

Margot clapped her hands, and Grandmother was pleased to see her joy.

Then her face fell, she turned to Grandmother and said slowly, ”Oh, what a lucky little girl she is!”

CHAPTER XII

AT AUNTIE SUE'S SHOP

”The people are waiting! Hurry, Jeanne!” called Auntie to the little girl at the back of the screen.

Jeanne sat with Pierrot before her, and both were dressed in splendor.

The little girl had on a new frock of Auntie Sue's.

Her dark hair made a charming frame for her little oval face under the yellow poke bonnet, of old-fas.h.i.+oned shape. She wore an old-fas.h.i.+oned dress. It was yellow, with hand-painted flowers and a velvet bow.

And Pierrot! Ah, Pierrot, too, was fine in a new satin suit and cap, with bright red cheeks which Jeanne had painted. Many exciting adventures were happening there behind the screen to the little yellow-gowned girl and the clown in satin.

Jeanne was not thinking of this new frock of Auntie's which she wore, nor of the big Sat.u.r.day audience out in the shop waiting for her to appear. She was thinking of her latest play for Pierrot. As Auntie called, Jeanne put the puppet down and, smoothing the dainty dress, she stepped out into the bright little shop room.

All about were seated ladies and children. The children were in smart attire, with interested and curious little faces that peered and stared at the live puppet as she walked about.