In reality he much admired her pluck.

He watched her jump over the wall with the complacency of an older brother supervising the exercises of a younger one.

Indeed, there was yet much that was childlike in their growing love.

On several occasions they spoke of going on some bird's-nesting expedition on the banks of the Viorne.
"You'll see how I can climb," said Miette proudly.

"When I lived at Chavanoz, I used to go right up to the top of old Andre's walnut-trees.
Have you ever taken a magpie's nest?
It's very difficult!" Then a discussion arose as to how one ought to climb a poplar.