gathered round the booths and stalls. She did not concern
herself about that, however, for her mind was still full of
what she had seen and heard in the church; and she walked on
silently, till presently Madame, with some natural curiosity
as to this small waif and stray she had picked up, said, "Are
you staying at the hotel, _ma petite?_"

"Yes," answered Madelon, "we came there last night."

"And how was it you went to church all alone?"

"Papa had to go out," says Madelon, getting rather red and
confused, "and I was so dull by myself, and I--I went out into
the street, and got into the church by a little door at the
side--not that other one we came out at just now; so I did not
know where I was, nor the way back again."

"Then you are a stranger here, and have never been to the
church before?" said Monsieur.

"No," said Madelon; and then, full of her own ideas, she asked
abruptly--"what was everyone doing in there?"

"In there!--in the church, do you mean?"

"Yes, in the church--what was everyone doing?"

"But do you not know, then," said the mother, "that it is to-
day a great fête--the fête of the Assumption?"