74/108 The old fellow, who was ghastly pale in spite of the wine and the food, was talking of his sons who had died in the Crimea. Ah! if the lads had only lived, he would have had bread to eat every day. But mother Coupeau, speaking thickly, leant towards him and said: "Ah! one has many worries with children! For instance, I appear to be happy here, don't I? No, don't wish you still had your children." Pere Bru shook his head. |