They had discovered, too,
that La Catiche had not only carried off with her a large quantity of
linen, but had left the other servants quite spoilt, disorganized, so
that a general clearance seemed necessary.
"Oh!" resumed Marianne, as if to smooth things, "when the children are
well one can overlook other worries."
"Why, do you imagine that Andree is well?" cried Seguin, giving way to
one of his brutal fits. "That Catiche certainly set her right at first,
but I don't know what happened afterwards, for now she is simply skin and
bones." Then, as his wife wished to protest, he lost his temper. "Do you
mean to say that I don't speak the truth? Why, look at our two others
yonder: they have papier-mache faces, too! It is evident that you don't
look after them enough. You know what a poor opinion Santerre has of
them!"
For him Santerre's opinion remained authoritative. However, Valentine
contented herself with shrugging her shoulders; while the others, feeling
slightly embarrassed, looked at Gaston and Lucie, who amid the romping of
their companions, soon lost breath and lagged behind, sulky and
distrustful.
"But, my dear friend," said Constance to Valentine, "didn't our good
Doctor Boutan tell you that all the trouble came from your not nursing
your children yourself? At all events, that was the compliment that he
paid me.
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