I'm always splitting my sides over it, in my little corner."
Then she laughed till the tears came into her eyes; and La Couteau, on
her side highly amused, began to wriggle with a savage delight. All at
once, however, she calmed down and exclaimed, "But, I say, they will turn
her out of doors?"
"Oh! that won't be long. They would have done so already if they had
dared."
But at this moment the ringing of a bell was heard, and an oath escaped
Celeste. "Good! there's madame ringing for me now! One can never be at
peace for a moment."
La Couteau, however, was already standing up, quite serious, intent on
business and ready to depart.
"Come, little one, don't be foolish, you must do your work. For my part I
have an idea. I'll run to fetch one of the nurses whom I brought this
morning, a girl I can answer for as for myself. In an hour's time I'll be
back here with her, and there will be a little present for you if you
help me to get her the situation."
She disappeared while the maid, before answering a second ring, leisurely
replaced the malaga and the biscuits at the bottom of the cupboard.
At ten o'clock that day Seguin was to take his wife and their friend
Santerre to Mantes, to lunch there, by way of trying an electric
motor-car, which he had just had built at considerable expense.
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