The child roared, uttered shrill screams, which pierced the thickest walls, so as to be heard by passers-by in the streets.
In his consternation, the Captain got up, and Matilda jumped out and took the child into her bed, when he was quiet at once.
Etienne sat astride on a chair, and made a cigarette, and in about five minutes Andrew went to sleep again.
"I will take him back," his mother said; and she took him back very carefully to his bed.
When she returned, the Captain was waiting for her with open arms, and put his arms round her in a transport of love, while she, embracing him more closely, said, stammering:
"Oh! Etienne, my darling, if you only knew how I love you; how...."
Andrew began to cry again, and he, in a rage, exclaimed:
"Confound it all, won't the little brute be quiet?"
No, the little brute would not be quiet, but howled all the louder, on the contrary.
She thought she heard a noise downstairs; no doubt the nurse was coming, so she jumped up, and took the child into bed, and he grew quiet directly.