same time; their discussion was animated.

When the party left the dining-room, Duroy offered his arm to the
little girl. She thanked him gravely and stood upon tiptoe in order
to lay her hand upon his arm. Upon entering the drawing-room, the
young man carefully surveyed it. It was not a large room; but there
were no bright colors, and one felt at ease; it was restful. The
walls were draped with violet hangings covered with tiny embroidered
flowers of yellow silk. The portieres were of a grayish blue and the
chairs were of all shapes, of all sizes; scattered about the room
were couches and large and small easy-chairs, all covered with Louis
XVI. brocade, or Utrecht velvet, a cream colored ground with garnet
flowers.

"Do you take coffee, M. Duroy?" Mme. Forestier offered him a cup,
with the smile that was always upon her lips.

"Yes, Madame, thank you." He took the cup, and as he did so, the
young woman whispered to him: "Pay Mme. Walter some attention." Then
she vanished before he could reply.

First he drank his coffee, which he feared he should let fall upon
the carpet; then he sought a pretext for approaching the manager's
wife and commencing a conversation. Suddenly he perceived that she
held an empty cup in her hand, and as she was not near a table, she
did not know where to put it. He rushed toward her:

"Allow me, Madame."

"Thank you, sir."