There is a blackbird in particular, and a blue tomtit, that are both extremely saucy!" These remarks were of a nature to please Julien.

They went straight to the heart of the young mystic; they recalled to his mind St.Francis of Assisi, preaching to the fish and conversing with the birds, and he felt an increase of sympathy for this singular young girl.

He would have liked to find a pretext for remaining longer with her, but his natural timidity in the presence of women paralyzed his tongue, and, already, fearing he should be thought intruding, he had raised his hat to take leave, when Reine addressed him: "I do not ask you to come into the house, because I am obliged to go to the sale of the Ronces woods, in order to speak to the men who are cultivating the little lot that we have bought.

I wager, Monsieur de Buxieres, that you are not yet acquainted with our woods ?" "That is true," he replied, smiling.
"Very well, if you will accompany me, I will show you the canton they are about to develop.

It will not be time lost, for it will be a good thing for the people who are working for you to know that you are interested in their labors." Julien replied that he should be happy to be under her guidance.
"In that case," said Reine, "wait for me here.