She became inquisitive and talkative, in a word a woman, for hitherto she had only displayed the actions and ideas of a man.
From her point of observation, she remarked a young man, a student, who lived at an hotel in the neighbourhood, and who passed several times daily before the shop.

This youth had a handsome, pale face, with the long hair of a poet, and the moustache of an officer.

Therese thought him superior looking.

She was in love with him for a week, in love like a schoolgirl.

She read novels, she compared the young man to Laurent, and found the latter very coarse and heavy.