At first they laughed at her; then Clement became polite, and even learned to speak French with her after a fashion.

Jack was not only ignorant of French, but his English was so mixed with school-boy idioms, that Madame and he seldom got through a conversation without wonderful complications, from which, however, Jack's expressive countenance and ready wit generally delivered them in the long run.

I do not know whether, on the whole, Madame did not like Mr.Arkwright best of all.

_Le bon pasteur_, as she styled him.
"The Furrin Lady," as she was called in the village, was very fond of looking into the cottages, and studying the ways of the country generally.
I never shall forget the occurrence of the yearly village fair or feast during her visit: her anxiety to be present--her remarkable costume on the occasion--and the strong conviction borne in upon Eleanor and me that the Fat Lady in the centre booth was quite a secondary attraction to the Furrin Lady between us, with the raw lads and stolid farmers who had come down from the hills, with their wise sheep-dogs at their heels.
If they stared at her, however, Madame was not unobservant of them, and the critical power was on her side.
"These men and their dogs seem to me alike," said she.

"Both of them--they stare so much and say so little.