I tried to coax her to come out with us just now.

But she preferred to take a little rest." Raymonde, who overheard these words, thereupon raised her voice to say: "Yes, indeed, my poor mamma could no longer keep on her feet.

It was I who compelled her to lie down, telling her that she could go to sleep without any uneasiness, for we should get on all right without her--" So saying, the girl gave Gerard a laughing glance.

He even fancied that he could detect a faint squeeze of the fresh round arm which was resting on his own, as though, indeed, she had wished to express her happiness at being alone with him so that they might settle their own affairs without any interference.

This quite delighted him; and he began to explain that if he had not had _dejeuner_ with his comrades that day, it was because some friends had invited him to join them at the railway-station refreshment-room at ten o'clock, and had not given him his liberty until after the departure of the eleven-thirty train.
"Ah! the rascals!" he suddenly resumed.