"What can this man have fallen in love with? Yes, she is a skinny cat!"
Her next thought was:
"What are they saying?"
Seized with a strong desire to hear their words, and without thinking of the danger that she ran, she went nearer and nearer to the hedge, bending her body so as not to be seen. Having found the shadiest, safest spot, she listened, although she could only hear them as they passed by, as soon as they were a little way off not a word was audible, so the snatches of conversation were rather incoherent.
"Her legs are very rough. You should see how fat she is getting. Neither starch nor rose powder soothes the irritation of the skin," said the lady.
"They are talking of the baby," thought Fernanda.
"I have never seen her in her bath. How much I would give to be present one day!"
"It is because you do not want to."
"No, no, but I do not want to expose you to the danger that would accrue from my doing so."
No more could be heard, but she felt she must wait for them to get to the end of the path and then turn.