"No, I would not let you,"
she said, after a moment's pause, "unless you had nowhere else
to go; but you have other friends, it appears, and it is well
for you. No, I would not let you, for it would be as bad a
thing for you as could be. Ask any of the neighbours what they
would think of it--ask them if they think you would get good or
bad from me, and see what they would say!" She gave a little
scornful laugh.
"I don't know what you mean," said Madelon, fixing her great
eyes on her with a puzzled look--"I don't care what they would
say. You are one of the best people I ever knew, and I love
you with all my heart; but I _must_ go away."
"Why must you?" asks Jeanne-Marie, stitching away at the black
frock.
"That is what I cannot tell you," said Madelon. "No, I will
not tell any one, though I should like to tell you, too,"
added the poor child, gazing wistfully at almost the only
friend she had in the world.
"Well, well," said Jeanne-Marie, "I do not want to hear your
secrets, as you know, unless you like to tell them; but I am
not going to lose sight of you altogether till I hear you are
safe with your friends.
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