As she heard these words, after flashing a mischievously inquisitivelook at the furniture of her father's study, the young girl broughtforward the armchair which looked as if it had been least used bypetitioners, set it at the side of the fireplace so as to sit facingher father, and settled herself in so solemn an attitude that it wasimpossible not to read in it a mocking intention, crossing her armsover the dainty trimmings of a pelerine a la neige, and ruthlesslycrushing its endless frills of black tulle. After a laughing sideglance at her very very aged father's troubled face, she broke silence.