The Toilette of the Graces Mademoiselle Mimi, who was accustomed to sleep far into the day, woke up one morning at ten o'clock, and was greatly surprised not to find Rodolphe beside her, nor even in the room.

The preceding night, before falling to sleep, she had, however, seen him at his desk, preparing to spend the night over a piece of literary work which had been ordered of him, and in the completion of which Mimi was especially interested.

In fact, the poet had given his companion hopes that out of the fruit of his labors he would purchase a certain summer gown, that she had noticed one day at the "Deux Magots," a famous drapery establishment, to the window of which Mimi's coquetry used very frequently to pay its devotions.

Hence, ever since the work in question had been begun, Mimi had been greatly interested in its progress.

She would often come up to Rodolphe whilst he was writing, and leaning her head on his shoulder would say to him in serious tones-- "Well, is my dress getting on ?" "There is already enough for a sleeve, so be easy," replied Rodolphe.
One night having heard Rodolphe snap his fingers, which usually meant that he was satisfied with his work, Mimi suddenly sat up in bed and passing her head through the curtains said, "Is my dress finished ?" "There," replied Rodolphe, showing her four large sheets of paper, covered with closely written lines.