“Yes, to be sure, but those two cannot spend all the time together. I think Gaspard really prefers the others, when it comes to that. It seems rather peculiar, too.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Annette is a dear girl, and I like to be with her myself because I, too, am a girl, but Gaspard is a grown-up man. He is three years older than Victor.”

“And you think grown-up men do not care for the society of young ladies? I never heard that before.” There was a little mocking look in Odette’s eyes.

“Young ladies, yes, but Annette is not a young lady.”

“I think you told me she is sixteen.”

“You are sixteen but you are not a young lady.”

“In two years she will be a young lady; she will be of marriageable age. She is not too young to be fiancée.”

Lucie looked at Odette, for a moment taken aback. “Do you really think they are fianced? I never in the world thought of that. I mean to ask her. No, on second thoughts I would rather ask Mons. Le Brun. I can be more confidential with him these days than with Annette. I think if it is so that she should have told me, old friends as we are.”

“It may not be arranged; it may be only going to be.”