He had received letters which necessitated his leaving the following morning, added to which he did not much appreciate coming down to the country in order to sleep on the drawing-room divan.
"And this poor baby boy!" Nana continued, melting suddenly at sight of Georges's pale face as he still sat rigid and breathless in front of her.
"D'you think Mamma recognized me ?" he stammered at last.
"Oh, most surely she did! Why, she cried out! But it's my fault.

He didn't want to come with us; I forced him to.

Now listen, Zizi, would you like me to write to your mamma?
She looks such a kind, decent sort of lady! I'll tell her that I never saw you before and that it was Steiner who brought you with him for the first time today." "No, no, don't write," said Georges in great anxiety.

"I'll explain it all myself.

Besides, if they bother me about it I shan't go home again." But he continued plunged in thought, racking his brains for excuses against his return home in the evening.