For, odd as it may seem, among this people originally French, and still speaking a patois based, like their laws and customs, on the old Norman, there is no term of opprobrium more profound than "Frenchman." Madame Julie flatly refused to subject herself to further peril from Grannie's keen but harmless gaze, and contented herself with such opportunities of enlarging Nance's outlook on life as casual chats about the farm-yard afforded, and found time heavy on her hands.
Ennui, before long, gave place to grumbling, and that to recrimination; and from what the others could not help hearing, through the boarded-up doors and the floor of the loft, Tom and his wife had a cat-and-dog time of it.
Gard had moved over to Plaisance with great regret.

But nothing else was possible under the altered circumstances at La Closerie, so he made the best of it.
It was some consolation to learn that they also missed him.
"Everything's different," grumbled Bernel, one day when they met.

"Tom and his wife quarrel so that we can hear them through the walls.

And Grannie sits by the hour without opening her mouth.

And mother and Nance are as quiet as if they were going to be sick.