Monsieur Roger had been interested in the dialogue.
"May I ask what prize Master Paul Solange has obtained?"
"A poor little first prize for drawing only," answered Miette.
"Ah, you love drawing?" said Monsieur Roger, looking at Paul.
But it was Miette who answered: "He loves nothing else."
Monsieur Dalize now, in his turn, took up the conversation, and said,—
"The truth is that our friend Paul has a passion for drawing. History and Latin please him a little, but for chemistry and the physical sciences he has no taste at all."
Monsieur Roger smiled.
"You are wrong," replied Monsieur Dalize, "to excuse by your smile Paul's indifference to the sciences.—And as to you, Paul, you would do well to take as your example Monsieur Roger, who would not have his fortune if he had not known chemistry and the physical sciences. In our day the sciences are indispensable."
Miss Miette, who had shoved herself a little away from the table, pouting slightly, heard these words, and came to the defence of the one whom she had begun by attacking. She opened a book full of pictures, and advanced with it to her father.