“Over there, at the end, by the shed where they keep the hay.”
“Good; adieu—I’ll see you again.”
With that the young man walked quickly to the entrance to the orchard and passed through at the very moment that Athalie reached the hedge.
“Where have you been hiding, monsieur?” she asked, with a smile.
“Why, madame—I went in here, you see, not knowing that it was the orchard, and, to tell you the truth, I have been eating your fruit.”
“Before breakfast? that is very wrong. I am a wee bit selfish; I don’t like anybody to take any pleasure without me. I supposed that you had found some milkmaid here on my place, some peasant girl, whose—ruddy complexion had taken your fancy.”
“Oh, madame!”
“I do not think, however, that this establishment contains any rustic beauties worthy of your homage; for I assume that you still have some taste, and I agree that the little milkmaid was not bad-looking.”
“True, true, she was very pretty; and you remind me——”
“Nonsense, monsieur; give me your arm and come to breakfast; everything is ready on a plot of greensward shaded by honeysuckle. The other gentlemen are waiting for us, and it is an unheard-of thing that I should have to come in search of you.”