“Will you give me your horse, Liénard?” I said. “I think it very pretty and I will take it.”
Mutually embarrassed and grieved a moment before, my father and Liénard were much amused at my intervention.
“Ah, yes! I will give it to you,” replied Liénard. “It is yours, and I am not afraid now that your father will take it from you.”
I adored the feeling of being important. But to have overcome this difficult situation did not suffice me.
“Now, since I have a horse and papa has a tilbury, I wish to return to Chauny in it and not in the diligence,” I added.
“But it will take us three days instead of one,” said father.
“Oh! papa, shall you really find three days quite alone with your daughter too long? You will tell me a lot of things, and I, also, will tell you as many. It will be so amusing to travel in a carriage, like gipsies.”
“Do as she wishes, dear Lambert,” said Liénard. “Come, get into your carriage and start. I will send you your packages by the diligence.”
“Papa! papa! do, I beg of you, let us be off!”
“Has the horse eaten?” Liénard asked the groom.