"Look! that's Père Ledrux!" suddenly exclaimed Poucette.
"Yes, my girl, and I have brought two ladies who want to speak to you."
"To me, Père Ledrux? Bah! you're joking! We don't know any fine ladies."
"You're going to know some; don't I tell you that madame's come here for you—to take you with her? Well! what do you say to that?"
The young peasant flushed to the hair and seemed dumfounded.
Madame Dalmont walked toward her.
"Mademoiselle," she said, "I am looking for a young girl to enter my service; for my friend and I are coming to live at Chelles."
"These ladies have bought Monsieur Courtivaux's house; you know where it is."
"There are only two of us, my young friend here and myself; so that you will have only us to wait upon, and you will not have very severe mistresses to get along with. Tell me if you think that it will suit you to live with us. We have just seen your aunt, who thinks that you will do well to accept; but she leaves you entirely free to refuse the place if it does not please you."
"And you'll have your board and lodging and washing and they'll give you ten francs a month besides; that's not bad, eh?" said Père Ledrux.