"We must talk quickly. Father has only just fallen asleep. If he were to awake! If he were to come upon us!"
But Jean Nesmy seemed in nowise to share her fears. Nor did he look about the room to see if all was in order. He only looked at Rousille, so agitated under her little coif. The light placed between them illuminated their eyes to the very depths.
"You are as pretty as ever," replied the lad. "One might well walk miles to catch a sight of you! Mother Nesmy did not want me to come on account of the expense; but I said to her: 'I would rather go without my bread,' and it was true, my Rousille."
She could not help smiling.
"You always know how to pay compliments, Jean Nesmy; and really I see no change in you."
"There is none," he returned, showing his white teeth.
And now she forgot all her previous uneasiness, and it seemed to them both, as though they had never been apart, so natural was the interchange of ideas; the candle quivered under the mutual stream of question and answer.
"Tell me, Rousille, how are things going? Are you happy?"
"Not very. At La Fromentière we have more sorrow than happiness. Now, as you know, our master the Marquis has had all his furniture sold. Such a pity!"
"Our nobles of Le Bocage would not have done such a thing," said the Boquin, throwing back his head.