“I bet you a shilling I take her through every mortal thing this afternoon,” said Jack.
“You’ve cheek enough,” retorted his elder brother.
But after luncheon, when Madame was again in her room, Jack came to me with a nosegay he had gathered, to beg me to arrange it properly, and put a paper frill round it. With some grass and fern-leaves, I made a tasteful bouquet, and added a frill, to Jack’s entire satisfaction. He took it up-stairs, and we heard him knock at Madame’s door. After a pause (“I’m sure she’s crying again!” said Eleanor) Madame came out, and a warm discussion began between them, of which we only heard fragments. Madame’s voice, as the shrillest, was most audible, and it rose into distinctness as she exclaimed, “Anything sŏh dirrty, sŏh meean, sŏh folgaire, I nevaire saw.”
Again the discussion proceeded, and we only caught a few of Jack’s arguments about “customs of the country,” “for the fun of it,” etc.
“Fun?” said Madame.
“For a joke,” said Jack.
“Ah, c’est vrai, for the choke,” she said.
“And avec moi,” Jack continued. “There’s French for you, Madame! Come along!”
Madame laughed.
“She’ll go,” said Eleanor.