unluckily, it’s perfectly proper.”

“I wish,” replied Papa Bouchard, “you could get one single serious idea into that head of yours.”

“I have a great many serious ideas,” said Léontine, suddenly assuming an unwonted air of gravity, and leaving her perch on the arm of Papa Bouchard’s chair for a seat directly facing him. “What would you say if I told you that I am taking a deep and real interest in practical sociological questions, such as giving employment to the deserving workers?”

[67]“I should say you were at least reaching the development I have always wished for you. But I hope you are confining your experiments to giving work only. The mere giving of money tends to pauperize. The giving of work is the intelligent mode of benefiting a man or a woman.”

[67]

“That’s it precisely,” cried Léontine, instantly losing her air of gravity, and jumping up to kiss the bald spot on the top of Papa Bouchard’s head. Then she resumed her chair and her serious manner simultaneously. “That’s what I knew you’d say, dear Papa Bouchard. I had your approval in mind all the time. It came about in this way,” continued Léontine, solemnly. “There is a very worthy man—a Pole, Putzki by name—who is one of the best tailors in Paris. I became very much interested in this man; likewise in his jackets, coats and riding habits. I have been to his shop several times and talked with him. The man is an exile[68] from his native country. How sad that is! And he cannot go back. He is very deserving and has a family to support. He doesn’t ask for charity, but I gave him——”

[68]

“All the money you had,” hastily and angrily interjected Papa Bouchard.

“Not at all,” replied Léontine, with dignity. “I had learned better than that. I have not given him a franc. But I ordered, out of pure charity and good will to a fellow creature, five walking gowns, three jackets, two long coats, a yachting costume and a couple of riding habits.”

Papa Bouchard’s mouth opened wide, but no sound came forth. Léontine, taking advantage of his amazed silence, kept on, rapidly:

“Then there is another deserving case—Louise, a milliner and modiste. She has a husband who squanders her money on his pleasures. If Victor did that I think it would kill me. Like Putzki she does not ask money, but[69] work. Out of sympathy for her, I have had her 

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