One can not begin with children too soon," and much more to the same effect.
This was the reason why, one fine spring day, M.Violette was ushered into M.Batifol's office, who, the servant said, would be there directly.
M.Batifol's office was hideous.

In the three bookcases which the master of the house--a snob and a greedy schoolmaster--never opened, were some of those books that one can buy upon the quays by the running yard; for example, Laharpe's Cours de Litterature, and an endless edition of Rollin, whose tediousness seems to ooze out through their bindings.

The cylindrical office-table, one of those masterpieces of veneered mahogany which the Faubourg St.Antoine still keeps the secret of making, was surmounted by a globe of the world.
Suddenly, through the open window, little Amedee saw the sycamore in the yard.

A young blackbird, who did not know the place, came and perched for an instant only upon one of its branches.
We may fancy the tree saying to it: "What are you doing here?
The Luxembourg is only a short distance from here, and is charming.

Children are there, making mud-pies, nurses upon the seats chattering with the military, lovers promenading, holding hands.