He had brought his daughter to Bracieux, where she was to spend a week with Bijou, and Jeanne's fiancé, a young professor, newly appointed at the Pont-sur-Loire College, had accompanied them.
"How warm you must be, my dear Bijou," called out the marchioness, appearing at one of the windows.
"Oh, no, grandmamma," answered Denyse, taking M. de Rueille's hand in order to descend from her horse. "M. Giraud and Pierrot must be warm—I am all right."
She kissed Jeanne heartily, spoke to M. Dubuisson, and then looked in a hesitating way towards the young professor, who was contemplating her in surprise.
"Bijou, this is Monsieur Spiegel," said Mademoiselle Dubuisson.
With a graceful, pretty movement, which was very taking, Bijou held out her little hand to the young man.
"We are friends at once," she said; and then, as she moved away with Jeanne, she whispered: "He is charming, you know, quite charming!"
M. Spiegel perhaps overheard this kindly criticism, or else it was just by accident that he happened to turn very red at that moment.
"Go and change your dress quickly, Bijou!" commanded the marchioness.
"But, grandmamma, I am not warm, really and truly."