Add to all this that the lady had a remarkably good air, and that the little acrobat seemed perfectly at home in the midst of all this splendor." Paul was going so far that his mother was obliged to stop him.

Before M.
de Larnac, who was excessively annoyed and disappointed, he showed too plainly his delight at the prospect of having this marvellous American for a near neighbor.
The Abbe Constantin was preparing to return to Longueval, but Paul, seeing him ready to start, said: "No! no! Monsieur le Cure, you must not think of walking back to Longueval in the heat of the day.

Allow me to drive you home.

I am really grieved to see you so cast down, and will try my best to amuse you.

Oh! if you were ten times a saint I would make you laugh at my stories." And half an hour after, the two--the Cure and Paul--drove side by side in the direction of the village.