She went, in general, the same short round among the little shops in the neighbourhood; not entering any, but stopping at two or three.

Pierre afterwards remembered that she had invariably paused at the nosegays displayed in a certain window, and studied them long: but, then, she stopped and looked at caps, hats, fashions, confectionery (all of the humble kind common in that quarter), so how should he have known that any particular attraction existed among the flowers?
Morin came more regularly than ever to his aunt's; but Virginie was apparently unconscious that she was the attraction.

She looked healthier and more hopeful than she had done for months, and her manners to all were gentler and not so reserved.

Almost as if she wished to manifest her gratitude to Madame Babette for her long continuance of kindness, the necessity for which was nearly ended, Virginie showed an unusual alacrity in rendering the old woman any little service in her power, and evidently tried to respond to Monsieur Morin's civilities, he being Madame Babette's nephew, with a soft graciousness which must have made one of her principal charms; for all who knew her speak of the fascination of her manners, so winning and attentive to others, while yet her opinions, and often her actions, were of so decided a character.

For, as I have said, her beauty was by no means great; yet every man who came near her seems to have fallen into the sphere of her influence.