The subsequent conduct of the strong under the yoke of the weak might have propitiated a she-bear with three cubs, one sickly. They generally slipped out of the house at daybreak: and stole in like thieves at night: and if by any chance they were at home, they went about like cats on a wall tipped with broken glass, and wearing awe-struck visages, and a general air of subjugation and depression.
But all would not do. Their very presence was ill timed: and jarred upon Catherine's nerves.
Did instinct whisper, a pair of depopulators had no business in a house with multipliers twain?
The breastplate is no armour against a female tongue: and Catherine ran infinite pins and needles of speech into them. In a word, when Margaret came down stairs, she found the kitchen swept of heroes.
Martin, old and stiff, had retreated no farther than the street, and with the honours of war: for he had carried off his baggage, a stool: and sat on it in the air.
Margaret saw he was out in the sun: but was not aware he was a fixture in that luminary. She asked for Denys. "Good, kind Denys; he will be right pleased to see me about again."
Catherine, wiping a bowl with now superfluous vigour, told her Denys was gone to his friends in Burgundy. "And high time. Hasn't been anigh them this three years, by all accounts."
"What, gone without bidding me farewell?" said Margaret, opening two tender eyes like full-blown violets.
Catherine reddened. For this new view of the matter set her conscience pricking her.
But she gave a little toss, and said, "Oh, you were asleep at the time: and I would not have you wakened."