"Is that Claudine?" asked Honorine, looking at the child who was still blowing the sticks with all her strength.
"No, that's Mariette, our second one; Claudine's eleven; she's big and strong. As for Poucette, she's a good girl, but let me tell you, if you count on her to do your cooking, why you mustn't expect too much! Well! she ain't very subtle about cooking."
Honorine smiled at the word "subtle" which the peasants are very fond of using, often without any clear idea of its meaning.
"I am not disturbed about that," she replied. "All I shall ask of Poucette are zeal and willingness."
"Oh! as far as that goes, she's got plenty. And you will give her her keep?"
"Naturally."
"And her washing?"
"She will have to spend nothing but for clothes; and Agathe and I will often find something to give her among our old dresses."
"I will give her my blue striped dress at once," said Agathe, "for it's too small for me. I am still growing."
"If it's too small for you, it will be even smaller for Poucette, who's taller than you," said Père Ledrux, with a laugh.