CHAPTER VII.
"Alas! regardless of their doom, The little victims play: No sense have they of ills to come, No care beyond to-day."-- GRAY.
Good legislators always attend to the habits, and what is called the genius, of the people they have to govern.

From youth to age, the taste for whatever is called _une fete_ pervades the whole French nation.
Madame de Fleury availed herself judiciously of this powerful motive, and connected it with the feelings of affection more than with the passion for show.

For instance, when any of her little people had done anything particularly worthy of reward, she gave them leave to invite their parents to a _fete_ prepared for them by their children, assisted by the kindness of Sister Frances.
One day--it was a holiday obtained by Victoire's good conduct--all the children prepared in their garden a little feast for their parents.
Sister Frances spread the table with a bountiful hand, the happy fathers and mothers were waited upon by their children, and each in their turn heard with delight from the benevolent nun some instance of their daughter's improvement.

Full of hope for the future and of gratitude for the past, these honest people ate and talked, whilst in imagination they saw their children all prosperously and usefully settled in the world.
They blessed Madame de Fleury in her absence, and they wished ardently for her presence.
"The sun is setting, and Madame de Fleury is not yet come," cried Victoire; "she said she would be here this evening--What can be the matter ?" "Nothing is the matter, you may be sure," said Babet; "but that she has forgotten us--she has so many things to think of." "Yes; but I know she never forgets us," said Victoire; "and she loves so much to see us all happy together, that I am sure it must be something very extraordinary that detains her." Babet laughed at Victoire's fears; but presently even she began to grow impatient; for they waited long after sunset, expecting every moment that Madame de Fleury would arrive.

At last she appeared, but with a dejected countenance, which seemed to justify Victoire's foreboding.