“What tyranny!” said Agricola gayly, sitting down.  “Well, I preach like a good apostle; but I am quite at ease in your arm-chair, after all.  Since I sat down on the throne in the Tuileries, I have never had a better seat.”

Frances Baudoin, standing on one side of the table, cut a slice of bread for her son, while Mother Bunch, on the other, filled his silver mug.  There was something affecting in the attentive eagerness of the two excellent creatures, for him whom they loved so tenderly.

“Won’t you sup with me?” said Agricola to the girl.

“Thank you, Agricola,” replied the sempstress, looking down, “I have only just dined.”

“Oh, I only ask you for form’s sake—­you have your whims—­we can never prevail on you to eat with us—­just like mother; she prefers dining all alone; and in that way she deprives herself without my knowing it.”

“Goodness, child!  It is better for my health to dine early.  Well, do you find it nice?”

“Nice!—­call it excellent!  Stockfish and parsnips.  Oh, I am very fond of stockfish; I should have been born a Newfoundland fisherman.”

This worthy lad, on the contrary, was but poorly refreshed, after a hard day’s toil, with this paltry stew,—­a little burnt as it had been, too, during his story; but he knew he pleased his mother by observing the fast without complaining.  He affected to enjoy his meal; and the good woman accordingly observed with satisfaction: 

“Oh, I see you like it, my dear boy; Friday and Saturday next we’ll have some more.”

“Thank you, mother,—­only not two days together.  One gets tired of luxuries, you know!  And now, let us talk of what we shall do to-morrow—­Sunday.  We must be very merry, for the last few days you seem very sad, dear mother, and I can’t make it out—­I fancy you are not satisfied with me.”

“Oh, my dear child!—­you—­the pattern of—­”

“Well, well!  Prove to me that you are happy, then, by taking a little amusement.  Perhaps you will do us the honor of accompanying us, as you did last time,” added Agricola, bowing to Mother Bunch.

The latter blushed and looked down; her face assumed an expression of bitter grief, and she made no reply.

“I have the prayers to attend all day, you know, my dear child,” said Frances to her son.

“Well, in the evening, then?  I don’t propose the theatre; but they say there is a conjurer to be seen whose tricks are very amusing.

“I am obliged to you, my son; but that is a kind of theatre.”

“Dear mother, this is unreasonable!”

“My dear child, do I ever hinder others from doing what they like?”

“True, dear mother; forgive me.  Well, then, if it should be fine, we will simply take a walk with Mother Bunch on the Boulevards.  It is nearly three months since she went out with us; and she never goes out without us.”

“No, no; go alone, my child.  Enjoy your Sunday, ’tis little enough.”