She won't chatter.

Wait a moment, and I will settle everything." Sophie, on being summoned, at once understood what was wanted of her, and promised to say, in reply to any questions, that M.Guillaume had come to spend the night at his brother's, for reasons which she did not know.

And without indulging in any reflections herself, she left the house, saying simply: "Monsieur l'Abbe's dinner is ready; he will only have to take the broth and the stew off the stove." However, when Pierre this time returned to the bedside to sit down there, he found that Guillaume had fallen back with his head resting on both pillows.

And he looked very weary and pale, and showed signs of fever.
The lamp, standing on a corner of a side table, cast a soft light around, and so deep was the quietude that the big clock in the adjoining dining-room could be heard ticking.

For a moment the silence continued around the two brothers, who, after so many years of separation, were at last re-united and alone together.