"It's he!" and was about to run to the street door when Marguerite stopped her, saying,—
"How now, my child, what are you going to do? It would not be decent for you to go and open the door for this young man."
"Do you think so, nurse. Very well; go then, Marguerite; go quickly."
Marguerite hurried as fast as she could, she was anxious to see the young man. She opened the door to Urbain and looked at him attentively; his gentle and diffident appearance made a favorable impression on the old woman.
"It's singular—he appears to be more embarrassed as a boy than as a girl. Come in, come in, my handsome young spark; come in. Now we shall see if you've any more stories to relate of the adventures of your aunts and cousins."
"Yes, my good Marguerite," said Urbain, "I shall continue to tell them to you if they give you pleasure."
"He wishes to please me," said Marguerite to herself. "Yes, Blanche was right, the young man is very charming."
The embarrassment of these two young lovers was a very singular thing, inasmuch as they had in their first interview spoken so freely of their love, and were already engaged and certain of being married. Blanche, who had at first wished to run to the door, now dared not raise her eyes, and, on hearing Urbain's step, remained motionless on her chair. The latter, on entering this room where he had been every evening for a fortnight, experienced an uneasiness, a new embarrassment, and paused near the door, holding his hat in his hand, and glancing timidly at Blanche.
"Well," said Marguerite, "here's one who dares go no farther at present. Come, master boy, when you were a girl you didn't thus remain standing motionless and mute at the door; and my poor Blanche, who is afraid to raise her eyes and is trembling like a leaf. My darling, it isn't necessary to blush like that when one has done nothing wrong. You see, I am obliged to encourage you."
However, Urbain gently approached Blanche, bent his knees to the floor and murmured,—