This accusation of cowardice vexed his brother, who replied:  “It isn’t true.  I did see a spider, but I threw my pillow at it to kill it.”

“So did I! so did I!” stammered Rose, again laughing wildly.  “I threw my pillow like that—­houp! houp!”

They all roared and wriggled again, so amusing did it seem to them.  The truth was that they had engaged in a pillow fight under pretence of killing a spider, which Blaise alone said that he had seen.  This unsupported testimony left the matter rather doubtful.  But the whole brood looked so healthful and fresh in the bright sunshine that their father could not resist taking them in his arms, and kissing them here and there, wherever his lips lighted, a final game which sent them into perfect rapture amid a fresh explosion of laughter and shouts.

“Oh! what fun! what fun!”

“All the same,” Marianne exclaimed, as she succeeded in freeing herself somewhat from the embraces of the children, “all the same, you know, I want to get up.  I mustn’t idle, for it does me no good.  And besides, you little ones need to be washed and dressed.”

They dressed in front of the big blazing fire; and it was nearly ten o’clock when they at last went down into the dining-room, where the earthenware stove was roaring, while the warm breakfast milk steamed upon the table.  The ground floor of the pavilion comprised a dining-room and a drawing-room on the right of the hall, and a kitchen and a study on the left.  The dining-room, like the principal bedchamber, overlooked the Rue de la Federation, and was filled every morning with cheerfulness by the rising sun.

The children were already at table, with their noses in their cups, when a ring at the street door was heard.  And it was Dr. Boutan who came in.  His arrival brought a renewal of noisy mirth, for the youngsters were fond of his round, good-natured face.  He had attended them all at their births, and treated them like an old friend, with whom familiarity is allowable.  And so they were already thrusting back their chairs to dart towards the doctor, when a remark from their mother restrained them.

“Now, please just leave the doctor quiet,” said she, adding gayly, “Good morning, doctor.  I’m much obliged to you for this bright sunshine, for I’m sure you ordered it so that I might go for a walk this afternoon.”

“Why, yes, of course I ordered it—­I was passing this way, and thought I would look in to see how you were getting on.”

Boutan took a chair and seated himself near the table, while Mathieu explained to him that they had remained late in bed.

“Yes, that is all right, let her rest:  but she must also take as much exercise as possible.  However, there is no cause to worry.  I see that she has a good appetite.  When I find my patients at table, I cease to be a doctor, you know, I am simply a friend making a call.”

Then he put a few questions, which the children, who were busy breakfasting, did not hear.  And afterwards there came a pause in the conversation, which the doctor himself resumed, following, no doubt, some train of thought which he did not explain:  “I hear that you are to lunch with the Seguins next Thursday,” said he.  “Ah! poor little woman!  That is a terrible affair of hers.”