Urbain was for some moments unable to answer, for these words of Blanche, "She can sleep with me," had so disturbed his whole being that he did not know what he was doing. At last he murmured in a changed voice,--
"If you think well of it, mademoiselle, I think well of it also."
"Most certainly I wish it, do I not dear nurse? We could not let her go out at this time of night. Why don't you answer?"
Marguerite saw no harm in the country woman's sleeping with Blanche, but rather hoped to gain an advantage thereby in keeping all night the precious relic; and, as her mind had been struck with the idea that some misfortune was going to happen to her, the possession of the little scrap of cloth seemed to her like a benefaction of Providence.
"It's true," said she, at last, "that the weather is frightful, and if Ursule will not forget to go away before daybreak--"
"Oh, yes, dear nurse, and if she is asleep I promise you I will wake her."
"Very well, then I'm willing that she should remain."
"Oh, how delightful," said Blanche, "we shall sleep together, Ursule. I have never slept with anyone. How we shall chat and laugh."
"No, indeed, no, indeed," said Marguerite; "on the contrary you must go to sleep without making any noise that monsieur could hear."
"Very well, we will go to sleep, dear nurse," responded the amiable child, and she added in Urbain's ear, "We will talk very low."
"Well, in that case I will go to bed," said the old servant hesitating to return that which she held in her hand. "My dear Ursule," she said at last, "you have nothing to fear here. If you would permit me to keep your talisman for this night only, because I sleep in a room that is not safe and I can't get that bat out of my head."
"Oh, keep it, Mademoiselle Marguerite," said Urbain, "may it do you much pleasure."
"Yes, keep it, dear nurse," said Blanche, "besides we have mine, that will be enough for us, will it not, Ursule?"
Marguerite, delighted to possess a safeguard for the whole night, lighted her lamp and turned towards the door, saying,--
"Good night, my children, good night. Mercy, what a gust of wind. Ursule, you must go tomorrow before daybreak."
"Go to bed as quickly as possible, and extinguish your light, that no one may suspect anything."