This road rises gently till it reaches the Maisons gate, and on market days it is often crowded with carts.
"I shall go first, eh ?" said Marie gaily, "for vehicles still alarm you." Thereupon she started ahead, but every now and again she turned with a smile to see if he were following her.

And every time they overtook and passed a cart she spoke to him of the merits of their machines, which both came from the Grandidier works.

They were "Lisettes," examples of those popular bicycles which Thomas had helped to perfect, and which the Bon Marche now sold in large numbers for 250 francs apiece.

Perhaps they were rather heavy in appearance, but on the other hand their strength was beyond question.

They were just the machines for a long journey, so Marie declared.
"Ah! here's the forest," she at last exclaimed.