The little Comtesse murmured, "It is _la mal à la tête_."
Dorothy put soft cushions under the head that did not ache and a rug over the little feet that pined to scamper about. As soon as ever she had done this, Hébé pulled her out of the room.
Then began a violent conversation on the wide landing outside the Marquis' salon.
Then she re-appeared holding several huge bandboxes in her hands.
"I bought these," she said, "from a _très petite_ Comtesse at the _établissement_ of la Madame Marcelle. Would you like to look at them?"
"No," said Margot, and she suddenly began to cry. "I hate _établissements_, I hate deceit. I have _not_ got _mal à la tête_. Is there any cold water near?"
Lady Dorothy stared and Lady Hébé frowned. But Margot was only thinking of Uncle Jacko, dear Uncle Jacko, and of grand-dad The Desmond.
"Take me where I can find some water, some icy cold water, please," she said to Dorothy.
Dorothy obeyed in a sort of bewilderment. She took Margot to her own room and soon the whitening process was removed from the little cheeks and the brilliant and lovely colour returned. Margot's eyes sparkled as of old.
"Now you look like yourself," said Dorothy. "You have no _mal à la tête_."
"None, none, none," cried Margot. "Never had."
"Ah, but how strange," said Lady Dorothy.
"But never mind. Hébé will soon love you. Behold, Hébé, behold! This is my little friend."
"And my little shop-keeper," said Hébé in an angry voice.
Margot's big eyes blazed with a kind of fury.
"And are you really, really going to tell the Marquis?" said the child, her eyes blazing. "Take your chapeaux then, here, and here, and here. I have repented of my lie--I have confessed to you both--but--but----"
She pulled the hats out of their bandboxes and flung them in Hébé's face.
"Now I despise you," she said. "I did what I did to help _ma belle_ grand'mère and she keeps M. le Comte in all luxury and does everything for me. No, I don't want your tea; I don't want your _gâteaux_. I am not ashamed of helping _ma belle_ grand'mère. I help her a little, and she helps me much, but I will never choose a hat for you again. Understand! You can go to Madame Marcelle and you can spread the news, if you like, that I help a little one who helps me much. Behold, our château! It is neat, it is clean, it is white. It is full of things most beautiful and _mon_ grandpère eats of the best and lives in the best style and he is happy. I will go on helping _ma belle_ grand'mère and you can do as you please, but I will never choose a hat for you, Lady Hébé. See, I am off home now. I can easily get back to my comfortable home."