Subjugated by his imperious air, Nicole obeyed. When she returned after dismissing the corporal, her first lover was gone.
Alone in his attic, Gilbert cherished of his recollections solely the picture of Andrea letting down her fine tresses.
CHAPTER VII.
THE TRAP TO CATCH PHILOSOPHERS.
INDIFFERENT to everything since he had learnt of Andrea’s going soon to the court, Gilbert had forgotten the excursion of Rousseau and his brother botanist on Sunday. He would have preferred to pass the day at his garret window, watching his idol.
Rousseau had not only taken special pains over his attire, but arrayed Gilbert in the best, though Therese had thought overalls and a smockfrock quite good enough to wander in the woods, picking up weeds.
He was not wrong for Dr. Jussieu came in his carriage, powdered, pommaded and freshened up like springtime: Indian satin coat, lilac taffety vest, extremely fine white silk stockings and polished gold buckled shoes composed his botanist’s outfit.
“How gay you are!” exclaimed Rousseau.
“Not at all, I have dressed lightly to get over the ground better.”
“Your silk hose will never stand the wet.”
“We will pick our steps. Can one be too fine to court Mother Nature?”