CHAPTER XII.
MORE ABOUT EUGENIE—A REAL FRIEND.
That evening, Louis found himself for the first time in the midst of the Smithson family. We often thought of him that night, and wished we could know at once what kind of a reception he had met with, especially from Eugénie. But we were obliged to wait for these interesting details till Louis could relate them himself. We did not have to wait long. When he came, he was gloomy and dispirited. Victor pretended not to observe his dejection.
“Well,” said he, “you have now made the acquaintance of the Smithsons. What do you think of them?”
“A good many things, but I can sum up my impressions in a word: they are queer people!”
“Indeed! did they hurt your feelings in any way?”
“Yes; ... yet I do wrong to be angry, or even to be astonished. I should have expected it.”
“This great dinner, then, did not turn out as I hoped—a means of cementing amicable, if not affectionate, relations between you?”
“By no means.”
“You greatly astonish me!”