Volume I Part 55 (1/2)
”The trouble is, you see, the Marne's as sly as the devil; it has holes and lots of gra.s.s. You have to know it well to risk it in a boat; and better, to bathe in it.”
”But I don't object to this solitude, this perfect quiet.”
”And then, at Ch.e.l.les it isn't like this; you meet people there.”
”True; we met as many as three people on our way to that poor farmer's.--So we do not need to cross the bridge, you say?”
”No, madame, there's Guillot's field at our left.”
”And the Tower,” said Agathe; ”why don't we see it from here?”
”Because we're in a hollow; but it's over yonder, behind Gournay, toward Noisy-le-Grand. You wait till you see all this six weeks from now; then the trees will be green and the shrubs in flower, and it'll be much brighter than it is now.”
”You are right, Pere Ledrux.”
”Look, there's Guillot's field, and I see Poucette digging.”
Poucette was a tall, strong girl, with the bronzed skin of those who work in the fields. But her round face was honest and good-humored, her black eyes met yours unflinchingly, albeit without the slightest touch of boldness in their expression; and when she smiled, as she did very frequently, she showed a double row of teeth whose whiteness formed a striking contrast to her brown skin.
A little girl of eleven or twelve, with the head of a boy, whose hair, cut _a la t.i.tus_, presented the aspect of a hedgehog, was working by Poucette's side; it was Claudine, the farmer's oldest child.
The two villagers stopped their work to look at the two young women who were coming toward them. In a region where you may walk all day without meeting a cat, one may be forgiven for suspending work to stare at two stylishly dressed ladies.
”Look! that's Pere Ledrux!” suddenly exclaimed Poucette.
”Yes, my girl, and I have brought two ladies who want to speak to you.”
”To me, Pere Ledrux? Bah! you're joking! We don't know any fine ladies.”
”You're going to know some; don't I tell you that madame's come here for you--to take you with her? Well! what do you say to that?”
The young peasant flushed to the hair and seemed dumfounded.
Madame Dalmont walked toward her.
”Mademoiselle,” she said, ”I am looking for a young girl to enter my service; for my friend and I are coming to live at Ch.e.l.les.”
”These ladies have bought Monsieur Courtivaux's house; you know where it is.”
”There are only two of us, my young friend here and myself; so that you will have only us to wait upon, and you will not have very severe mistresses to get along with. Tell me if you think that it will suit you to live with us. We have just seen your aunt, who thinks that you will do well to accept; but she leaves you entirely free to refuse the place if it does not please you.”
”And you'll have your board and lodging and was.h.i.+ng and they'll give you ten francs a month besides; that's not bad, eh?” said Pere Ledrux.
Poucette's face became radiant.
”Oh! certainly the place does suit me!” she cried; ”and I don't ask anything better than to take it. In the first place it'll be a relief to my uncle and aunt, who have to support me now; but if I earn money, I can help them in my turn, and that will make me very happy.”
”I see that you are an excellent girl, my child; and if, as I hope, you serve me faithfully, I promise to increase your wages later.”
”You are very kind, madame; I'll do my best. But, you see, I don't know many things, and if I've got to cook, I'm afraid I am not very clever.”