“I’ll tell you directly, my dear love.”
Virginie, first of all, seated herself at the table; Cézarine did the same and forgot the accidents that had happened to her dress as she helped herself to double portions. Mère Fourcy stood respectfully before the young women, and poor Denise, with her eyes fixed on Virginie’s, waited impatiently until she should choose to tell her what had happened to Auguste.
“Pray be seated, venerable aunt,” said Virginie to Mère Fourcy, who believed that she was entertaining ladies from the court.
“Indeed, madame, I shall not think of it!”
“I thall refuthe to eat if you continue to thtand,” said Cézarine, as she ate her third egg.
“I know too well what I owe you, madame.”
“You don’t owe us anything at all, Mère Fourcy; on the contrary, we ought to be waiting on you.”
“Oh, madame! the idea!”
“Respect the wrinkled—that’s my motto. Sit down, I say!”
“How well madame would play the mother of Coriolanuth!”