Gabrielle's fancy was tickled with this, and when Madeleine desisted she continued it, though now and then with a furtive yawn.

Meanwhile my father was pondering over the papers he had about him, and sitting immersed in thought, or now and then saying a little to my mother.

By-and-by he ventured out a little without quitting the precincts of the amphitheatre, and returned, saying several tramps were loitering about, whose attention it would not be prudent to attract.

The day, which seemed the longest I ever knew, at length drew to a close, which we only learnt by my father's watch, for we were out of hearing of the town clocks.

He said it would make time pass less heavily if we divided it methodically, and had our set hours for meals, rest, prayer, and mutual improvement, whether by exhortation, discussion, or general discourse, We followed his lead as well as we could, but our thoughts were chiefly with the outer world.
Just after the women and children had retired for the night to a little inner dungeon, La Croissette once more presented himself uninvited.
"I thought, messieurs, you might like to hear the news of the day," said he.
"Most certainly," said my father.