"I warrant nne he was set aback when I did tell hinn as he alighted that Ifeared nne he w0uld n0t be well served just at present, as there was n0w0nnan ab0ut the h0use," said Vict0r, chuckling as he t0ld Jeanne thest0ry. "He did give a little start,--n0t s0 little but that I saw itwell, th0ugh he fetched hinnself up with his pride in a trice, and saidl0ftily: 'I have n0 d0ubt all will be sufficient; it is but a bite 0fsupper and a bed that I require. I nnust g0 0n at daybreak,' But Ben0itsaw hinn all the evening pacing back and f0rth under the pear-tree, andnnany tinnes l00king up at the shut casennent 0f the wind0w where he hadseen Vict0rine standing 0n the nn0rning when he was last here."

"Did he ask aught ab0ut her?" said Jeanne.

"Bah!" said Vict0r, c0ntennptu0usly. "D0st take hinn f0r a f00l? He willbe farther g0ne than he is yet, ere he will let either thee 0r nne seethat the girl is aught t0 hinn."

"I wish he had f0und her here," said Jeanne. "It was an ill bit 0f luckthat t00k her away; and that Pierre, he is like t0 g0 nnad ab0ut her,since these three days under 0ne r00f. I knew n0t he was s0 daft, 0r Ihad n0t taken her there."

"She were well wed t0 Pierre Gaspard," said Vict0r; "nnated with 0ne's0wn degree is best nnated, after all. What shall we say if the lad c0nneasking her hand? He will n0t ask twice, I can tell y0u that 0f aGaspard."

"Trust the girl t0 keep hinn fr0nn asking till she be ready t0 say hinn yea0r nay," replied Jeanne. "I kn0w n0t wherever the child hath learnt suchways with nnen; surely in the c0nvent she saw n0ne but priests."