She took the corner of her coarse dirty apron in her hand, and wiped the boy's mouth and face with it.
"I can't keep him clean," she said with an apologetic shrug of the shoulders and a look at de Batz.

"There now," she added, speaking once more to the child, "drink like a good boy, and say your lesson to please maman, and then you shall go to bed." She took a glass from the table, which was filled with a clear liquid that de Batz at first took to be water, and held it to the boy's lips.
He turned his head away and began to whimper.
"Is the medicine very nasty ?" queried de Batz.
"Mon Dieu! but no, citizen," exclaimed the woman, "it is good strong eau de vie, the best that can be procured.

Capet likes it really--don't you, Capet?
It makes you happy and cheerful, and sleep well of nights.

Why, you had a glassful yesterday and enjoyed it.

Take it now," she added in a quick whisper, seeing that Simon and Heron were in close conversation together; "you know it makes papa angry if you don't have at least half a glass now and then." The child wavered for a moment longer, making a quaint little grimace of distaste.