Then, seeing in his face a look half of surprise, half of curiosity, I
added:--

"I often go there in the afternoon, when it is too cold, or too late for
out-of-doors. They are such beautiful rooms, and full of such beautiful
pictures! Would you like to see them?"

He smiled, and shook his head.

"Thanks, petite," he said, "I am too cold now, and too tired; but you shall
show them to me some other day. Meanwhile, suppose you come up and pay me
that promised visit?"

I assented joyfully, and slipping my hand into his with the ready
confidence of childhood, turned back at once and went with him to his rooms
on the second floor.

Here, finding the fire in the salon nearly out, we went down upon our knees
and blew the embers with our breath, and laughed so merrily over our work
that by the time the new logs had caught, I was as much at home as if I had
known Monsieur Maurice all my life.

"_Tiens_!" he said, taking me presently upon his knee and brushing the
specks of white ash from my clothes and hair, "what a little Cinderella I
have made of my guest! This must not happen again, Gretchen. Did you not
tell me yesterday that your name was Gretchen?"

"Yes, but Gretchen, you know, is not my real name," said I, "my real name
is Marguerite. Gretchen is only my pet name."