"What nice fancies you have, Cheri! But I wish you could see the tonnelle in summer.

It _is_ pretty then, with all the leaves on.

But we must run quick, or else Marcelline will be calling us before we have got to the chicken-house." Off she set again, and Hugh after her, though not so fast, for Jeanne knew every step of the way, and poor Hugh had never been in the garden before.

It was not very far to go, however--the chickens' house was in a little courtyard just a few steps from the tonnelle, and guided by Jeanne's voice in front as much as by the faint glimpses of her figure, dark against the snow, Hugh soon found himself safe beside her at the door of the chickens' house.

Jeanne felt about till she got hold of the latch, which she lifted, and was going to push open the door and enter when Hugh stopped her.
"Jeanne," he said, "it's _quite_ dark.