"And your poor bones?" she laughingly inquired, referring to the improvised couch. "It is not a comfortable bed for one like monsieur."
"It is luxury unspeakable compared to the bed I had anticipated early last evening. I never slept better in all my life."
"Good!" said she.
"And I'm hungry."
"Better!" said she. "Here is a clean towel and here is water," showing him her modest toilet arrangement, "and here is petite Poupon scolding——"
"'Poupon'? 'scolding'?"
"Yes, monsieur. Have you, then, forgotten poor little Poupon? For shame!" With mock indignation.
She took the small blue teakettle, which had already begun to "scold," and, stooping over the hearth, made the coffee. She then dropped the two eggs in the same teakettle and consulted the clock.
"Hard or soft?" she asked.
"Minute and a half," he replied in the folds of the towel.