"It is rather too soon," said Solange quietly; "the consent of the parents will be needed, and I don't know yet whether it will be given. And to whom shall I be married? Those people who are so well informed should have told you that."
Thereupon Pierre, without answering, struck Jean-Louis on the shoulder.
"Look up, sleepy-head!" cried he in his ear. "Can you tell me who is going to marry my sister Solange?"
"Who? What?" answered Jeannet, like one coming out of a dream. "What are you talking about?"
"I say that you and Solange can keep a secret famously," said he, rather spitefully. "It is well to keep it secret, when you are only thinking of marriage, and I don't object to your first arranging it between yourselves; but now that everybody knows it except us, it is rather provoking for the family."
"You are crazy," said Jean-Louis.
"A big baby, at least," said Solange, shrugging her shoulders.
"All very well," said Pierre; "we know what we know. We say nothing further. When you choose to speak of your affairs, well, we will be ready to listen to you."
Jeannet was about to reply, but Luguet and his wife, who all this while had been in the barn, giving a look at the cattle, to see that all was safe for the night, re-entered the room, and Solange motioned to Jean-Louis not to continue such a useless conversation before her parents.