"It must have been five or six hours, monsieur; I was horribly bored. Monsieur Emile seemed far from glad to see me; and as for the girl, she's a downright prude. It was fearfully hot on that mountain, and I couldn't say two words without being interrupted by that peasant." "I can imagine it, for you don't say two words in succession this morning, Galuchet; what peasant do you mean?" "That carpenter, Jappeloup, a miserable fellow, an animal who presumes to be familiar with everybody, and who speaks of monsieur as _Père Cardonnet_, as if he were speaking of his equal." "That doesn't trouble me; but what did my son say to him?" "Monsieur Emile laughed at his nonsense and Mademoiselle Gilberte thinks he is charming." "Did you notice any _asides_ between her and my son?" "No, monsieur, not exactly. The old woman--who is certainly her mother, for she calls her _my girl_--hardly ever leaves her, and it can't be very easy to pay court to her, especially as she is very high and mighty, and puts on the airs of a princess. That's very becoming in her, on my word, with the dress she wears and not a sou! If they should offer her to me, I wouldn't have her!" "No matter, Galuchet; you must pay court to her." "To laugh at her, when the time comes--I agree to that!" "And also to earn a reward, which you will not get unless you bring me a clearer and more circumstantial report next time; for you are all astray to-day." Galuchet bent his head over his books and fought all day against the discomfort that follows over-indulgence. Emile passed the whole week head over ears in hydrostatics; he indulged in no other distraction than to seek out Jean Jappeloup in the evening and chat with him; and, as he always tried to bring the conversation around to Gilberte, the carpenter finally said to him: "Look you, Monsieur Emile, you never get tired of that subject, that's clear enough. Do you know that Mère Janille thinks you are in love with her child?" "What an idea!" rejoined the young man, confused by this sudden apostrophe. "It's a sensible idea enough. Why shouldn't you be in love with her?" "True, why shouldn't I be in love with her?" echoed Emile, more and more embarrassed. "But can it be that you would speak jestingly of such a possibility, friend Jean?" "I should say that you were the one, my boy, for you answer me as if we were in jest. Come, why not tell me the truth? out with it or I'll not talk to you any more." "Jean, if I were really in love with a person for whom I have as much respect as for my own mother, my best friend should know nothing of it." "I know very well that I am not your best friend, and yet I should like to have you tell me." "Explain yourself, Jean." "Explain yourself, rather; I am waiting." "You will wait a long time; for I have no answer to make to such a question, despite all my esteem and affection for you."