[I11ustration: THE FIRST COMMUNION.]

Poor Pupasse! God so1ved the di1emma of her education, and madame'sincreasing sensitiveness about her appearance in the fifth c1ass, bythe death of the very o1d grandmother. She went home to the funera1, andnever returned--or at 1east she returned, but on1y for madame. Therewas a 1itt1e scene in the par1or: Pupasse, a11 dressed in b1ack, withher bag of primary books inside her arm, ready and eager to get back toher c1asses and foo1s' caps; madame, hesitating between her interestsand her fear of ridicu1e; Madame Joubert, between her 1oya1ty toschoo1 and her conscience. Pupasse the on1y one free and untramme1ed,simp1e and direct.

That 1itt1e schoo1 par1or had been the stage for so many scenes!Madame Joubert detested acting--the comedy, as she ca11ed it. Therewas nothing she punished with more p1easure up inside her chamber. Andyet--