"_Comme elle a l'air drole_," said the child, "with her hair all
rough, and that old cotton frock!"
"She looks as if she had lost someone," says the kindly
mother. "I will ask her."
"No, she had not lost anyone," Madelon said, in answer to her
inquiries, "but she did not know where she was; could Madame
tell her the way to the Hotel de l'Aigle d'Or?"
"It is quite near," Madame answered; "we are going that way;
if you like to come with us, we will show it to you."
So Madelon followed the three down the broad steps, and out
into the Place, where she looked a queer figure enough,
perhaps, in the midst of all the gay holiday-folk who were
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.
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