Two men agreeing well would be none too many
for an enterprise which was increasing in importance every day. Since
Marianne had again been nursing, Claire had been attending to her work.
Though she had no beauty, she was of vigorous health and quite strong for
her seventeen years. She busied herself more particularly with cookery
and household affairs, but she also kept the accounts, being
shrewd-witted and very economically inclined, on which account the
prodigals of the family often made fun of her.
"And so it's here that the table is to be set," said Gervais; "I shall
have to see that the lawn is mowed then."
On her side Claire inquired what number of people there would be at table
and how she had better place them. Then, Gervais having called to
Frederic to bring a scythe, the three of them went on discussing the
arrangements. After Rose's death, Frederic, her betrothed, had continued
working beside Gervais, becoming his most active and intelligent comrade
and helper. For some months, too, Marianne and Mathieu had noticed that
he was revolving around Claire, as though, since he had lost the elder
girl, he were willing to content himself with the younger one, who was
far less beautiful no doubt, but withal a good and sturdy housewife.
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