GERMINAL
opinion of the owner of Piolaine, with his reasonable ideas, was that these gentlemen were sometimes rather immoderate in their exaggerated love of money.
Mèlanie had come to clear away the table. Outside the dogs were again barking, and Honorine was going to the door, when Cécile, who was stifled by heat and food, left the table.
“No, never mind! it must be for my lesson.”
Deneulin had also risen. He watched the young girl go out, and asked, smiling:
“Well! and the marriage with little Négrel?”
“Nothing has been settled,” said Madame Grégoire; “it is only an idea. We must reflect.”
“No doubt!” he went on, with a gay laugh. “I belleve that the nephew and the aunt What baffles me is that Madame Hennebeau should throw herself so on Cécile’s neck.”
But M. Grégoire was indignant. So distinguished a lady, and fourteen years older than the young man! It was monstrous; he did not like joking on such subjects. Deneulin still laughing, shook hands with him and left.
“Not yet,” said Cécile, coming back. “It is that woman with the two children. You know, mamma, the miner’s wife whom we met. Are they to come in here?”
They hesitated. Were they very dirty? No, not very; and they would leave their sabots in the porch. Already the father and mother had stretched themselves out in the depths of their large easy chairs. They were digesting there. The fear of change of air decided them.
“Let them come in, Honorine.”
Then Maheude and her little ones entered, frozen and hungry, seized by fright on finding themselves in this room, which was so warm and smelled so nicely of the brioche.
[73]
