In truth, her passionate love for
her father was, no doubt, at this time her great preservative
and safeguard, ennobling her, as every pure unselfish passion
must ennoble, and by absorbing her thoughts and heart, acting
as a charm against many an unworthy influence around her. The
first sound of his footstep outside was enough to put both
stories and gossip out of her head, and was the signal for her
to spring from her chair, and rush into the passage to meet
him; and a few minutes after they would be seated together in
their room upstairs, she nestling on his knee most likely,
with her arm tight round his neck, while he recounted the
adventures of the evening. His purse would be brought out, and
it was Madelon's special privilege and treat to pour out the
contents on the table and count them over. If M. Linders had
won it was a little fete for both--calculations as to how it
should be spent, where they should go the next day, what new
toy, or frock, or trinket should be bought; if he had lost,
there would be a moment of discouragement perhaps, and then
Madelon would say,
"It does not signify, papa, does it?--you will win to-morrow,
you know.
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