“No, but I like to know my people.”
“Do we know this poor woman who has been living here for more than a year?”
“Oh! but what a difference! A young, beautiful, and interesting woman; why, her condition alone would make anyone pity her; and that child, such a sweet, pretty creature! You see, I know something about faces; and these peddlers—I tell you, Catherine, I shan’t sleep sound to-night.”
“And I shall sleep very well, I trust.”
“For all that, don’t forget to lock your door.”
“Well, upon my word! if you’re not just like Lucas! I must say that we have brave fellows here to defend us, if we should be attacked!”
“You are mistaken, Catherine; I am not a coward; but I realize that I am more than twenty years old. Oh! if I were only twenty, I wouldn’t be afraid of three men!”
“Let me get my supper ready, instead of making my ears ache with your nonsense.”
“Nonsense! Hum! that’s easy to say.—And what about our young woman,—won’t she come to supper?”
“You know very well that it isn’t her custom. She is asleep, I hope; I suppose you would like to wake her, wouldn’t you?”