“I will take the next,” I said; “and, Augusta, will you have that one?”
“It’s all the same to me,” said Augusta.
In less than half-an-hour we felt ourselves more or less established in our new quarters.
“Now,” said Justine, becoming much animated, “you will want, you pauvre petites, some of the so nécessaire refreshment.”
She rang the bell with energy, and a man appeared bearing chocolate, cakes of different descriptions, and sandwiches. We sat down and made a merry meal. Even Augusta was pleased. She forgot the absence of books; she even forgot how far she was from the Professor. As to her poor mother, I do not think she even gave her a serious thought Hermione and I laughed and chatted. Finally we went and stood on the balcony, and Augusta retired to her own room.
“Now this is a new era; what will it do for us both?” said Hermione.
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Aren’t you happy, Dumps?”
“Yes, I am a little; but I don’t suppose I am expected to take things very seriously.”
“It is a great change for me,” said Hermione, “from the regularity of the life at home.”