"That is M. Xavier," said Madame.
I could not help exclaiming, undoubtedly with too much warmth:
"Oh! what a handsome boy!"
"Well, well, Mary!" exclaimed Madame.
I saw that my exclamation had not offended her, for she had smiled.
"M. Xavier is like all young people," she said to me. "He is not very orderly. You must be orderly for him; and his room must be perfectly kept. You will enter the room every morning at nine o'clock; you will bring him his tea; at nine o'clock, you understand, Mary? Sometimes M. Xavier comes home late. Perhaps he will not receive you well in the morning, but that makes no difference. A young man should be awakened at nine o'clock."
She showed me where M. Xavier kept his linen, his cravats, his shoes, accompanying each detail with some remark like this:
"My son is a little sharp, but he is a charming child."
Or else:
"Do you know how to fold pantaloons? Oh! M. Xavier is especially particular about his pantaloons."