Volume I Part 55 (2/2)
”If you are willing, that is enough; I will show you, and you will soon learn.”
”As for the will, madame will see that I have plenty of that.”
”Well, then, it's a bargain. You accept, do you not? I may rely on you?”
”Certainly, madame, with great thankfulness!”
At that moment they heard a plaintive sort of groan soon followed by sobs. It was the little girl with the head like a hedgehog, crying like a baby.
”Dear, dear! what's the matter, Claudine?” inquired Poucette, turning toward the child, who replied between her sobs:
”You're going to go away from our house, and I shan't see you any more!
I don't want Poucette to go away, I don't!”
This outburst of artless, sincere grief moved the two friends, who tried to pacify the little peasant by saying to her:
”Why, my child, you will still see Poucette; she isn't going to leave Ch.e.l.les, for we are coming here to live. You can come to see her whenever you have time; we shall never prevent you; on the contrary, we shall be very glad when you come.”
”Do you hear, Claudine? these ladies will let you come to see me, and you can help me when I clear up the garden!”
”The garden! oh! that's my business,” muttered Ledrux; ”you won't have anything to do with taking care of that; you don't know anything about it; a fine mess you'd make of it!”
The little girl looked at the two ladies and sighed. Agathe unfastened a velvet ribbon that she wore about her neck and placed it about the girl's, saying:
”See, this is to console you a little.”
Instantly the child smiled through her tears and cried:
”Oh! look, Poucette! the lovely ribbon! see how pretty it is!”
”Yes, you see that these ladies are very kind to you already!”
”Pardi! if you give 'em gewgaws and finery,” said the gardener, ”you'll soon make friends with 'em.”
”So much the better, Pere Ledrux; that is what we want. I am sure that this child cares more for the bit of ribbon than for rabbits.”
”Am I to go with you right away, madame?” said Poucette, dropping her spade.
”No, my child, not yet; we are going back to Paris for a few days. But when we return to Ch.e.l.les for good, you must come to us at once.”
”Shall you return soon, madame?”
”As soon as possible; I think that in a week we shall have done all that we have to do in Paris. But meanwhile I will give you your earnest money.”
Honorine had taken from her pocket a dainty purse, and was about to open it, when an enormous dog suddenly appeared in the middle of the field and bounded toward Poucette, glancing with a most impertinent expression at all the other persons present.
”Look out! look out! that's the dog from the Tower!” cried Pere Ledrux, retreating several steps.
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