" You provoke me, do you hear? Let me alone. Do not approach me. You are a gross egoist, a clumsy puppy; you don't know how to do anything for me; you are a dirty type, there! "

" Why do you say that ? It is madness. Come, don't fly into a passion like that. Well, yes, I was wrong. I ought to have seen this corset right away, — this very pretty corset. Why did I not see it right away? I do not understand it. Look at me; smile at me. My! how pretty it is! And how it becomes you! "

Monsieur dwelt too persistently upon the subject. He irritated me, although I had no interest in the quarrel. Madame stamped on the carpet, and, becoming more and more nervous, with pale lips and clenched hands, she rattled on:

" You provoke me, you provoke me ! Do you understand ? Clear out ! ' '

Monsieur continued to stammer, beginning now to show signs of exasperation.

"My darling! It is not reasonable. Just for a corset! It is out of all proportion. Come, my darling, look at me, smile at me. It is stupid to make such a fuss over a corset."

"Ah! Tu m' emmerdes I " vomited Madame, in the voice of a washerwoman. " Tu m' emmerdes! Clear out!"

I had finished lacing my mistress. I arose at this word, delighted at having surprised their two