Mademoiselle Grégoire looks up at Madame Nérisse.
Mademoiselle de Meuriot and Thérèse turn away their heads to hide their smiles; finally Madame Nérisse shuts the door, not having noticed anything, and comes forward. She speaks to Mademoiselle Grégoire.
Madame Nérisse. Come, my dear. I'll introduce you to the others. [To Mademoiselle de Meuriot] Ah! the post has come. Open the letters, Thérèse, will you?
Mademoiselle de Meuriot. Yes, we will.
Madame Nérisse [at the door on the right, to Mademoiselle Grégoire] You first. [They go out]
Mademoiselle de Meuriot [smiling] I think our new friend was a bit amused. She's pretty.
Thérèse. Yes, and she looks capable.
Mademoiselle de Meuriot. Let's get to work.
She sits down, at a desk. Thérèse sits near her at the end of the same desk. During all that follows Thérèse opens envelopes with a letter opener and passes them to Mademoiselle de Meuriot, who takes the letters out, glances at them, and makes three or four little piles of them.