After days and days of silence she had simply said, one evening, to Guillaume, that he had done well in bringing his brother to live among them.
Time flew by as she sat sewing and thinking.

Towards noon Guillaume, who was still at work, suddenly remarked to her: "As Marie and Pierre haven't come back, we had better let the lunch wait a little while.

Besides, I should like to finish what I'm about." Another quarter of an hour then elapsed.

Finally, the three young men rose from their work, and went to wash their hands at a tap in the garden.
"Marie is very late," now remarked Mere-Grand.

"We must hope that nothing has happened to her." "Oh! she rides so well," replied Guillaume.