“There will be some company to-night. Light the fire.”
The Cruchots, Madame des Grassins, and her son arrived at the usual hour of eight, and were surprised to see neither Madame Grandet nor her daughter.
“My wife is not very well, and Eugenie is with her,” said the old wine-grower, whose face betrayed no emotion.
At the end of an hour spent in idle conversation, Madame des Grassins, who had gone up to see Madame Grandet, came down, and every one inquired,—
“How is Madame Grandet?”
“Not at all well,” she answered; “her condition seems to me really alarming. At her age you ought to take every precaution, Papa Grandet.”
“We’ll see about it,” said the old man in an absent way.
They all wished him good-night. When the Cruchots got into the street Madame des Grassins said to them,—
“There is something going on at the Grandets. The mother is very ill without her knowing it. The girl’s eyes are red, as if she had been crying all day. Can they be trying to marry her against her will?”