Justin's happiest moments were those when by means of some gross falsehood he succeeded in getting her scolded.

Whenever he could tread on her feet, or push her roughly, pretending not to have seen her, he laughed and felt the delight of those crafty folks who rejoice at other people's misfortunes.

Miette, however, would stare at him with her large black childish eyes gleaming with anger and silent scorn, which checked the cowardly youngster's sneers.

In reality he was terribly afraid of his cousin.
The young girl was just attaining her eleventh year when her aunt Eulalie suddenly died.

From that day everything changed in the house.
Rebufat gradually come to treat her like a farm-labourer.