Hold your tongue as much as possible at least, and observe my conduct narrowly; it will serve you for a model.' Anastasie did as she was bidden, and considered the Doctor's behaviour.
She observed that he embraced the boy three times in the course of the evening, and managed generally to confound and abash the little fellow out of speech and appetite.

But she had the true womanly heroism in little affairs.

Not only did she refrain from the cheap revenge of exposing the Doctor's errors to himself, but she did her best to remove their ill-effect on Jean-Marie.

When Desprez went out for his last breath of air before retiring for the night, she came over to the boy's side and took his hand.
'You must not be surprised nor frightened by my husband's manners,' she said.

'He is the kindest of men, but so clever that he is sometimes difficult to understand.