That was all that was the matter.

And his shyness made Jeanne feel shy too.
"Are you very tired, my cousin ?" she said at last.
"Not very, thank you," said Hugh.

"I am rather tired, but I am not very hungry," he added, glancing at a side-table where a little supper had been laid out for him.

"I am not very hungry, but I think Nibble is.
Might I have a little milk for Nibble, please ?" As he spoke he held up for Jeanne to see the small box he was carrying, and she gave a little scream of pleasure when, through the bars, she caught sight of the guinea-pig's soft nose, poking out, saying as plainly almost as if he had spoken, "I want my supper; please to see at once about my supper, little girl." "Neeble," cried Jeanne, "O my cousin, is Neeble your pet?
Why, he is a 'cochon de Barbarie!' O the dear little fellow! We could not--at least papa and mamma could not--read what he was.

And have you brought him all the way, my cousin, and do you love him very much?
Marcelline, Marcelline, oh, do give us some milk for the cochon de Barbarie--oh, see, Marcelline, how sweet he is!" Once set free, her tongue ran on so fast that sometimes Hugh had difficulty to understand her.