He did not, indeed, fully understand its importance, nor
all that was passing in his child's mind; but he did perceive
that she had caught a glimpse through doors he had vainly
tried to keep closed to her, and that that one glance had so
aroused her curiosity and interest, that it would be less easy
than usual to satisfy her.
"Why do you never go to church, papa?" she was asking. "Why do
you not take me? It was so beautiful, and there were such
numbers of people. Why do we not go?"
"I don't care about it myself," he answered, at last, "but you
shall go again some day, _ma petite_, if you like it so much."
"May I?" said Madelon. "And will you take me, papa? What makes
so many people go? Madame said they went every Sunday and _fete_
day."
"I suppose they like it," answered M. Linders. "Some people go
every day, and all day long--nuns, for instance, who have
nothing else to do."
"It is, then, when people have nothing else to do that they
go?" asked Madelon, misunderstanding him, with much
simplicity.
"Something like it," answered M. Linders, rather grimly; then,
with a momentary compunction, added, "Not precisely.
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