But when he saw her in her shift, with her golden hair over her bare shoulders, he threw his arms round her neck and round her waist and kissed her in all directions.

She began struggling to get free, for she was frightened, and in smothered tones she stammered: "Do leave off! He's there! Oh, it's silly of you! And you, Zoe, are you out of your senses?
Take him away and keep him downstairs; I'll try and come down." Zoe had to push him in front of her.

When Nana was able to rejoin them in the drawing room downstairs she scolded them both, and Zoe pursed up her lips and took her departure with a vexed expression, remarking that she had only been anxious to give Madame a pleasure.

Georges was so glad to see Nana again and gazed at her with such delight that his fine eyes began filling with tears.

The miserable days were over now; his mother believed him to have grown reasonable and had allowed him to leave Les Fondettes.