He was still smiling, his white teeth showing humorously, when Sophie
again entered the room. He had forgotten her, forgotten all about her.
As she came in he made a quick, courteous movement to rise--too quick;
for a sharp pain shot through his breast, and he grew pale about the
lips. But he made essay to stand up lightly, nevertheless.

She saw his paleness, came quickly to him, and put out her hand to gently
force him back into his seat, but as instantly decided not to notice his
indisposition, and turned towards the table instead. Taking the bottle
of cordial, she brought it over, and not looking at him, said:

"Just one more little glass, m'sieu'?" She had in her other hand a plate
of seed-cakes. "But yes, you must sit down and eat a cake," she added
adroitly. "They are very nice, and I made them myself. We are very fond
of them; and once, when the bishop stayed at our house, he liked them
too."

Before he sat down he drank off the whole of the cordial in the glass.

She took a chair near him, and breaking a seed-cake began eating it. His
tongue was loosened now, and he told her what he was smiling at when she
came into the room. She was amused, and there was a little awe to her
interest also. To think--she was sitting here, talking easily to a man
who had eaten at kings' tables--with the king! Yet she was at ease too--
since she had drunk the cordial. It had acted on her like some philtre.
He begged that she would go on with her work; and she got the dish of
strawberries, and began stemming them while he talked.

It was much easier talking or listening to him while she was so occupied.
She had never enjoyed anything so much in her life. She was not clever,