At every opening in the walls, in corners, in the middle of the corridor, everywhere, earthenware vessels had been placed side by side.
Frederick began to feel bored.
"Perhaps these things are tiresome to you?" said she.
Fearing lest it might be necessary to terminate his visit there and then, he affected, on the contrary, a tone of great enthusiasm. He even expressed regret at not having devoted himself to this branch of industry.
She appeared surprised.
"Certainly! I would have been able to live near you."
And as he tried to catch her eye, Madame Arnoux, in order to avoid him, took off a bracket little balls of paste, which had come from abortive readjustments, flattened them out into a thin cake, and pressed her hand over them.
"Might I carry these away with me?" said Frederick.
"Good heavens! are you so childish?"
He was about to reply when in came Sénécal.