"The weather is magnificent; what do you say to a ride? We can go and hire some horses at the riding school, where I usually hire; they have some very good ones."
"A ride? delightful!"
"Then get ready quickly, monsieur. I will wait for you in your salon."
She left the room. I hastily finished dressing, and joined her in the salon.
"Your young seamstress doesn't seem to be here to-day," said Frédérique, with a smile.
"No, she came yesterday. She doesn't come regularly, every day, but just when she pleases."
"My friend, I was most unjust to that young woman. Such things as I said to her! Really, I don't know what had got into my head that day!"
"As you're sorry for it, you mustn't think any more about it."
"Oh! I shall try to make my peace with her, all the same. Let us go and have our ride, my friend."
We were soon in the saddle, and started off at a gallop. Frédérique rode with all the grace, assurance, and fearlessness of a circus rider. We went in the direction of the forest of Meudon, and Fleury. In that region one is more alone than in the Bois de Boulogne; the country is more rural, the landscape more diversified, and you can draw rein from time to time and indulge in pleasant converse.