It is all very well for you to think that charity has become bankrupt, but shall we not always love one another in loving our poor ?" Then they parted.
On becoming the companion of his three big nephews, Pierre had in a few lessons learnt from them how to ride a bicycle, in order that he might occasionally accompany them on their morning excursions.

He went twice with them and Marie along the somewhat roughly paved roads in the direction of the Lake of Enghien.

Then one morning when the young woman had promised to take him and Antoine as far as the forest of Saint-Germain, it was found at the last moment that Antoine could not come.

Marie was already dressed in a chemisette of fawn-coloured silk, and a little jacket and "rationals" of black serge, and it was such a warm, bright April day that she was not inclined to renounce her trip.
"Well, so much the worse!" she gaily said to Pierre, "I shall take you with me, there will only be the pair of us.

I really want you to see how delightful it is to bowl over a good road between the beautiful trees." However, as Pierre was not yet a very expert rider, they decided that they would take the train as far as Maisons-Laffitte, whence they would proceed on their bicycles to the forest, cross it in the direction of Saint-Germain, and afterwards return to Paris by train.
"You will be here for _dejeuner_, won't you ?" asked Guillaume, whom this freak amused, and who looked with a smile at his brother.