He began by complimenting her on her children. She replied without any exaggeration of maternal silliness.
The room had a tranquil aspect. A glow of sunshine stole in through the window-panes, lighting up the angles of the different articles of furniture, and, as Madame Arnoux sat close beside the window, a large ray, falling on the curls over the nape of her neck, penetrated with liquid gold her skin, which assumed the colour of amber.
Then he said:
"This young lady here has grown very tall during the past three years! Do you remember, Mademoiselle, when you slept on my knees in the carriage?"
Marthe did not remember.
"One evening, returning from Saint-Cloud?"
There was a look of peculiar sadness in Madame
Arnoux's face. Was it in order to prevent any allusion on his part to the memories they possessed in common?
Her beautiful black eyes, whose sclerotics were glistening, moved gently under their somewhat drooping lids, and her pupils revealed in their depths an inexpressible kindness of heart. He was seized with a love stronger than ever, a passion that knew no bounds. It enervated him to contemplate the object of his attachment; however, he shook off this feeling. How was he to make the most of himself? by what means? And, having turned the matter over thoroughly in his mind, Frederick could think of none that seemed more effectual than money.
He began talking about the weather, which was less cold than it had been at Havre.