“But this inconsistency,” she began, murmuring.
Suddenly she straightened herself, and came forward.
“Truly, I knew you were arrived, monsieur; and you reintroduce yourself to good company on your return to Méricourt.”
“And truly I do not take my cue from a scandalous world to cold-shoulder an old friend.”
He came sternly into the dairy, and sat himself down on the slab by the chickens, his legs dangling.
“Sit there,” he said, and dragged a chair with his foot to his near neighbourhood.
The girl hesitated, shrugged her shoulders, and obeyed.
“Monsieur, it is evident, has not learned——” she was beginning. He caught the sentence from her:—
“That you are a saint? No, I have not learned it in these few minutes—unless innuendo is the prerogative of sanctity. I, a sinner, met a fallen woman yesterday, and I pitied her.”
Mademoiselle Legrand hung her head. Ned recovered his good-humour and laughed.