"She means her husband, who must always have his siesta. He brought that habit from Spain, with chocolate." "I say, Denise," cried Mère Fourcy; "I know why neighbor Mauflard came here to-day; didn't we say at Claudine's last night that we'd have the party here to-night?" "Oh! dear, yes!" Denise replied dejectedly; "that was a very unfortunate idea of yours." "A village party!" said Cézarine, leaving the table; "oh! what fun that will be! I've often heard of them, but I never thaw one." "Nor I," said Virginie; "and yet I've seen a great many things. I say! if we should pass the night here, we could attend the party. What do you say, cousin?" "I thay that cabs won't cotht any more to-morrow morning than to-night." "It isn't a question of cabs. I know that we didn't bring our own carriage, so as not to tire our horses; but we must find out whether it will inconvenience our venerable aunt to put us up to-night." "Oh! we've got room, madame." "It will be very kind of you to stay," said Denise, hoping to have more talk of Auguste with Virginie. "But the ladies will have to be satisfied with rather a hard bed." "We shall be very comfortable." "I'm not hard to pleathe; I've thlept on thraw more than onth." Virginie nudged Cézarine and added hastily: "Oh, yes! in the country--as a joke--just for sport." "Yeth, and I rather like it; it ith great fun--it prickth." "Oh! I don't propose that you shall be pricked," said Mère Fourcy; "I'll fix up a bed for you in the little back chamber." "Don't put yourself out in the least, dear aunt, I beg; the pleasure of staying with you, of seeing the spectacle of a village party, is all we want," said Virginie. But the old woman turned a deaf ear and went to prepare a chamber for her guests, while Denise lighted a great lamp to illuminate the living-room; for it was growing dark, and the party would soon begin. During these preparations Virginie whispered to her friend: "These good people take us for princesses." "Well, it theemth to me that I cut a pretty good figure." "Yes, but don't make stupid remarks at the party. For my part, I like it here very much; I would willingly spend a fortnight here." "It thertainly wouldn't cotht much to live here." "But if all the men are as agreeable as neighbor Mauflard, they must be a lively set of fellows." Night came, and the regular party-goers, who had arranged to meet at Mère Fourcy's on that evening, began to arrive. One old woman brought her spinning-wheel, another her knitting; many brought nothing, because they were to tell stories, which are of no small importance at a village party. The men brought bottles and pitchers, and every one was provided with his own supper. Virginie and Cézarine, seated in a corner of the main room, where it was not very light, despite the lamp, scrutinized the villagers and made comments which luckily they did not hear.