Madame had no head for figures, as she had, indeed, a hundred times informed me, and I knew well that she had no money to pay me.

I had lived in this lady's house a paid dependant only in name and treated as an honoured guest.

A time of trouble and distress having come to them, what could I do but help such friends to the best of my power, seeking to avoid any hurt to their pride?
I explained the figures to Madame de Clericy, whose bright quick eyes seemed to watch my face rather than the paper as my pen travelled down it.

I began to feel conscious, as I often did in her presence, that I was but a clumsy oaf; and, furthermore, suspected that Lucille was watching me over the book she pretended to read.
"And this," said the Vicomtesse, when I had finished, "is how we stand towards each other ?"-- "Yes, Madame." And I dared not raise my eyes from the books before me.

The Vicomtesse rose and moved towards the fireplace, where the logs burned brightly, for the spring evenings are cold on the East Coast, and we are glad enough to burn fires.