came from America, which reminded her of Victor, and she had approached
the negro on the subject.

Once even, she had said:

"How glad Madame would be to have him!"

The man had repeated this remark to his mistress who, not being able to
keep the bird, took this means of getting rid of it.




CHAPTER IV

He was called Loulou. His body was green, his head blue, the tips of his
wings were pink and his breast was golden.

But he had the tiresome tricks of biting his perch, pulling his feathers
out, scattering refuse and spilling the water of his bath. Madame Aubain
grew tired of him and gave him to Felicite for good.

She undertook his education, and soon he was able to repeat: "Pretty
boy! Your servant, sir! I salute you, Marie!" His perch was placed near
the door and several persons were astonished that he did not answer to
the name of "Jacquot," for every parrot is called Jacquot. They called
him a goose and a log, and these taunts were like so many dagger thrusts
to Felicite. Strange stubbornness of the bird which would not talk when
people watched him!