On the twelfth day something occurred which, though it made no noise in the household, had very serious consequences.  The effect it produced on Jacqueline was decisive and deplorable.  The poor child, after going through all the states of mind endured by those who suffer under unmerited disgrace—­revolt, indignation, sulkiness, silent obstinacy—­felt unable to bear it longer.  She resolved to humble herself, hoping that by so doing the wall of ice that had arisen between her stepmother and herself might be cast down.  By this time she cared less to know of what fault she was supposed to be guilty than to be taken back into favor as before.  What must she do to obtain forgiveness?  Explanations are usually worthless; besides, none might be granted her.  She remembered that when she was a small child she had obtained immediate oblivion of any fault by throwing herself impulsively into the arms of her little mamma, and asking her to forget whatever she had done to displease her, for she had not done it on purpose.  She would do the same thing now.  Putting aside all pride and obstinacy, she would go to this mamma, who, for some days, had seemed so different.  She would smother her in kisses.  She might possibly be repelled at first.  She would not mind it.  She was sure that in the end she would be forgiven.

No sooner was this resolution formed than she hastened to put it into execution.  It was the time of day when Madame de Nailles was usually alone.  Jacqueline went to her bedchamber, but she was not there, and a moment after she stood on the threshold of the little salon.  There she stopped short, not quite certain how she should proceed, asking herself what would be her reception.

“How shall I do it?” she thought.  “How had I better do it?”

“Bah!” she answered these doubts.  “It will be very easy.  I will go in on tiptoe, so that she can’t hear me.  I will slip behind her chair, and I will hug her suddenly, so tight, so tenderly, and kiss her till she tells me that all has been forgiven.”

As she thought thus Jacqueline noiselessly opened the door of the salon, over which, on the inner side, hung a thick plush ‘portiere’.  But as she was about to lift it, the sound of a voice within made her stand motionless.  She recognized the tones of Marien.  He was pleading, imploring, interrupted now and then by the sharp and still angry voice of her mamma.  They were not speaking above their breath, but if she listened she could hear them, and, without any scruples of conscience, she did listen intently, anxious to see her way through the dark fog in which, for twelve days, she had wandered.

“I do not go quite so far as that,” said Madame de Nailles, dryly.  “It is enough for me that she produced an illusion of such beauty upon you.  Now I know what to expect—­”

“That is nonsense,” replied Marien—­“mere foolishness.  You jealous! jealous of a baby whom I knew when she wore white pinafores, who has grown up under my very eyes?  But, so far as I am concerned, she exists no longer.  She is not, she never will be in my eyes, a woman.  I shall think of her as playing with her doll, eating sugar-plums, and so on.”