“What sitting?”
“Why, the grand sitting of the legislative body. It’s do-day.”
“Dear me, no. What has that got to do with me? I should understand nothing at all about it. No, I came because I wanted to know my little Jansoulets, and then, I was beginning to feel uneasy. I have written several times without getting an answer. I was afraid that there was a child sick, that Bernard’s business was going wrong—all sorts of ideas. At last I got seriously worried, and came away at once. They are well here, they tell me.”
“Yes, Mme. Francoise. Thank God, every one is quite well.”
“And Bernard. His business—is that going on as he wants it to?”
“Well, you know one has always one’s little worries in life—still, I don’t think he should complain. But, now I think of it, you must be hungry. I will go and make them bring you something.”
He was going to ring, more at home and at ease than the old mother herself. She stopped him.
“No, no, I don’t want anything. I have still something left in my basket.” And she put two figs and a crust of bread on the edge of the table. Then, while she was eating: “And you, lad, your business? You look very much sprucer than you did the last time you were at Bourg. How smart you are! What do you do in the house?”
“Professor of massage,” said Aristide gravely.
“Professor—you?” said she with respectful astonishment; but she did not dare ask him what he taught, and Cabassu, who felt such questions a little embarrassing, hastened to change the subject.