"My head aches."
"Work will take it away! You really must come, we have only three days."
"But I am not indispensable; you can do without me," said Rueille irritably.
"Oh, but you always do the writing."
"From dictation; it is not necessary to be very clever for that."
"Yes it is; and then, too, we are used to you."
She was on the step above him, and, bending forward, she put her arms round his neck, and said in a coaxing tone:
"Paul, dear, come now, just to please me, you would be so nice, so very nice!"
M. de Rueille, turning abruptly, unclasped the soft arms, which encircled his neck and rested against his face.
"All right, all right!" he said, in a hoarse voice, "I'll come!"