The others pretended to be all mouths, but they were all ears.

The baroness looked in Rose's face with an air of wonder that was not very encouraging.

Then, as Rose said nothing, she raised her aristocratic hand with a courteous but decided gesture of refusal.
Undaunted Rose laid her palm softly on the baroness's shoulder, and said to her as firmly as the baroness herself had just spoken,-- "Il le veut." The baroness was staggered.

Then she looked with moist eyes at the fair young face, then she reflected.

At last she said, with an exquisite mixture of politeness and affection, "It is his daughter who has told me 'Il le veut.' I obey." Rose returning like a victorious knight from the lists, saucily exultant, and with only one wet eyelash, was solemnly kissed and petted by Josephine and the doctor.
Thus they loved one another in this great, old, falling house.