With his knitted bonnet, his sheepskin coat, his fur mittens and goloshes, he resembled a Samoyed, fresh from the pole.
"I won't shake hands," he said, "for I am covered with grease and oil.
What weather! Just think, I've been scouring the bells ever since early this morning.

I'm worried about them." "Why ?" "Why! You know very well that frost contracts the metal and sometimes cracks or breaks it.

Some of these bitterly cold winters we have lost a good many, because bells suffer worse than we do in bad weather .-- Wife, is there any hot water in the other room, so I can wash up ?" "Can't we help you set the table ?" Des Hermies proposed.
But the good woman refused.

"No, no, sit down.

Dinner is ready." "Mighty appetizing," said Durtal, inhaling the odour of a peppery _pot-au-feu_, perfumed with a symphony of vegetables, of which the keynote was celery.
"Everybody sit down," said Carhaix, reappearing with a clean blouse on, his face shining of soap and water.
They sat down.