And all the time the lonely little creature on the balcony sat and watched them longingly, her little pale face pressed against the bars, her plain black dress almost hiding her from notice.
"'How happy they look, those pretty young ladies,' the lonely little girl said to herself.

'How happy I should be if I had a sister, for I have no one to talk to, no one to kiss me and play with me and if ever I say I am sad my aunt is angry.

O mother! why did you go away and leave me ?'" "Could you hear all that from up here on the roof ?" said Jeanne.

"Dear me, Dudu, you must have good ears." "Of course I have; I told you so, Mademoiselle," said Dudu drily.

"I had better ears than your great-grandmother and her sister, for they heard nothing, not even when the poor little girl took courage to push her face farther forward between the railings, and to say very softly and timidly, "'Mesdemoiselles, Mesdemoiselles, _might_ I come and walk with you?
I am so tired of being here all alone.' "They did not hear her.