When Francoise, having seen that my parents had everything they required,
first went upstairs again to give my aunt her pepsin and to find out from
her what she would take for luncheon, very few mornings pased but she was
called upon to give an opinion, or to furnish an explanation, in regard to
some important event.
"Just fancy, Francoise, Mme. Goupil went by more than a quarter of an hour
late to fetch her sister: if she loses any more time on the way I should
not be at all surprised if she got in after the Elevation."
"Well, there'd be nothing wonderful in that," would be the answer. Or:
"Francoise, if you had come in five minutes ago, you would have seen Mme.
Imbert go past with some asparagus twice the size of what mother Callot
has: do try to find out from her cook where she got them. You know you've
been putting asparagus in all your sauces this spring; you might be able
to get some like these for our visitors."
"I shouldn't be surprised if they came from the Cure's," Francoise would
say, and:
"I'm sure you wouldn't, my poor Francoise," my aunt would reply, raising
her shoulders. "From the Cure's, indeed! You know quite well that he can
never grow anything but wretched little twigs of asparagus, not asparagus
at all.
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