Volume I Part 52 (2/2)
”So much the better. With a strong girl in the house, we shall not be afraid if we are attacked. Tell me, Pere Ledrux, do you think that she will be able to come to us as soon as we come back? I would like to have her, for then she could help us to clean house and put everything to rights. And then, I admit that, for the first few days, I shall be a little timid if we two are alone.”
”Ah! my dear! it seems that I am to be the sensible one here!”
”Oh! don't you pretend to be brave; you're afraid of mice!”
”That's very different; mice climb everywhere.”
”Tell me, Pere Ledrux, can we count upon this girl for the day of our arrival?”
”Why, you see, I can't answer as if I was her, or as if I was her uncle; but I'll tell you what you can do: while you're here, just go and talk to Poucette; then you'll know what to expect, and whether you can count on her.”
”You are right; that's the better way. But where shall we find this Poucette?”
”Pardi! at her uncle's, her aunt's husband's. It ain't very far out in the country; I'll show you the way if you want me to.”
”I should be very glad; I like above all things to settle matters on the spot.--Come, Agathe, let us go to see Mademoiselle Poucette; at the same time we shall see a little of the country where we are soon to live.”
XIX
A FARMER'S COTTAGE
Honorine and Agathe followed the gardener, who walked a few paces in front of them, constantly humming his little song:
”Tutu--tuturlututu.”
They walked for some distance; the peasant stopped from time to time to point out some pretty house, saying:
”That's where monsieur le maire lives. That's Monsieur le Docteur Antoine Beaub.i.+.c.hon's house; it ain't very large, but he has a nice vineyard behind--and such pear trees! Well! they bear the finest pears you ever saw--as big as melons! He gives them to the people he takes care of. In fact, they came near killing Monsieur Jarnouillard! but you may say he made a fool of himself, he ate too many of 'em. And deuce take it! pears are cold for the stomach, especially the grand d.u.c.h.ess!--That's Madame Droguet's house--a fine house--two wings! Oh!
it's a valuable place, I tell you! and kept up! You ought to see it!
There's carpets everywhere, even on the stairs; and everything rubbed till it s.h.i.+nes like a mirror; _estatues_ in the courtyard, vases of flowers, and a garden, with paths as straight as a string can make 'em; the box is trimmed so that never a branch sticks out by another. And there's a fine clump of chestnuts, where you can stand without fear of the rain; and a basin with a fountain that plays Sundays! Oh! it's magnificent! One of the finest places anywhere about. But then Madame Droguet's one of the swells.”
”Isn't she the lady,” queried Agathe, ”who had the resolution to hide five days in succession among the bushes, to get a close view of the owner of the Tower?”
”Bah! it was the doctor who told you that. Well, yes, they did say at the time that she did that; but I didn't see her. Suppose she did: she was at liberty to hide in the bushes if it amused her; she don't have anything else to do.”
”True; but one must be very inquisitive to pa.s.s five days in succession in the bushes, watching for someone.”
”Bless me! she's rich--she can afford to be inquisitive.”
”Has the lady a husband?”
”Oh, yes! a little bit of a man. When he's alongside of his wife, you can't see him, because Madame Droguet's a splendid woman; she's a good five feet five, and strong in proportion; what you might call a fine woman!”
”Isn't she supposed to have been a vivandiere formerly?”
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