"It seems that Monsieur de la Thomassinière, who talks of nothing but the duchesses, countesses and baronesses he courts, dances attendance on and deigns to be tender with his gardener. How many men try to take credit in society for brilliant conquests, when they have triumphed over nobody but their cook! However, there are many baronesses whose calves aren't as firm as these." While he indulged in these reflections, the young man continued to pat the leg, and the stout girl to laugh. Her basket being full, she began to descend the ladder, and, as Auguste did not lower his hand, that member necessarily found itself above the calf, where there was still much to pat, and the stout girl laughed louder than ever. "Does Monsieur de la Thomassinière permit himself to embrace you also?" Auguste asked, looking the gardener in the face. "Well, I say! well, pardié! Well, well, but you make me laugh!" At that moment Auguste saw Athalie's pretty cap over the hedge, as that lady approached the orchard. He ceased instantly to make the stout girl laugh, and asked her hastily: "Your name?" "Tapotte." "And your room?" "Over there, at the end, by the shed where they keep the hay." "Good; adieu--I'll see you again." With that the young man walked quickly to the entrance to the orchard and passed through at the very moment that Athalie reached the hedge. "Where have you been hiding, monsieur?" she asked, with a smile. "Why, madame--I went in here, you see, not knowing that it was the orchard, and, to tell you the truth, I have been eating your fruit." "Before breakfast? that is very wrong. I am a wee bit selfish; I don't like anybody to take any pleasure without me. I supposed that you had found some milkmaid here on my place, some peasant girl, whose--ruddy complexion had taken your fancy." "Oh, madame!" "I do not think, however, that this establishment contains any rustic beauties worthy of your homage; for I assume that you still have some taste, and I agree that the little milkmaid was not bad-looking." "True, true, she was very pretty; and you remind me----" "Nonsense, monsieur; give me your arm and come to breakfast; everything is ready on a plot of greensward shaded by honeysuckle. The other gentlemen are waiting for us, and it is an unheard-of thing that I should have to come in search of you." "If you would allow me to find you sometimes, madame, you would not have that trouble." "Oh! no sentiment, monsieur, I beg; remember that we came here only to be foolish."