“O agrestis and rusticus abode!” he cried; “I salute thee, but I do not regret thee. My tastes do not agree with Virgil’s, I prefer the city to the country.”
Nicole uttered a joyful exclamation at sight of Monsieur Gérondif, and she made haste to call Louise, saying:
“Come quick, my child, here’s the schoolmaster come back; no doubt Chérubin will soon be here too.”
It was in fact the tutor, who wore a hat so shiny that it looked as if it were varnished, with his hair carefully oiled beneath it; his gloves were glazed and his handkerchief drenched with Portugal water, but his nose was redder than ever.
Louise rushed into the house. Never had Monsieur Gérondif’s presence caused her such pleasure; she longed, yet feared to speak to him, but at last she gave him her hand and said in a hesitating tone:
“Ah! what happiness, monsieur! You are going to tell us about him.”
Monsieur Gérondif, for his part, was speechless with admiration at sight of the girl, for it was eight months since he had left Gagny, and in that period a tremendous change had taken place in Louise, altogether to her advantage. She was no longer a child, a little maid; she was a tall, well-built, charming girl, who had every qualification to attract, and to whom anybody would have given credit for seventeen years and a swarm of suitors.
“It is most extraordinary!” cried the tutor; “it is sorcery surely! What a gratifying change!”
“You find Louise grown, don’t you, monsieur?”
“Grown at least twelve centimetres, and her figure much more solid, more palpable!”