'You'll go up to the woods with me tomorrow--eh, George?' said the
father. The son of course assented. It was hardly possible that he
should not assent. The whole day, moreover, would not be wanted for
that purpose of throwing his thunderbolt; and if he could get it
thrown, it would be well that he should be as far away from Marie as
possible for the remainder of his visit. 'We'll start early, Marie,
and have a bit of breakfast before we go. Will six be too early for
you, George, with your town ways?' George said that six would not
be too early, and as he made the engagement for the morning he
resolved that he would if possible throw his thunderbolt that night.
'Marie will get us a cup of coffee and a sausage. Marie is always
up by that time.'

Marie smiled, and promised that they should not be compelled to
start upon their walk with empty stomachs from any fault of hers.
If a hot breakfast at six o'clock in the morning could put her
cousin into a good humour, it certainly should not be wanting.

In two hours after supper George was with his father. Michel was so
full of happiness and so confidential that the son found it very
difficult to keep silence about his own sorrow. Had it not been
that with a half obedience to his wife's hints Michel said little
about Adrian, there must have been an explosion. He endeavoured to
confine himself to George's prospects, as to which he expressed
himself thoroughly pleased. 'You see,' said he, 'I am so strong of
my years, that if you wished for my shoes, there is no knowing how
long you might be kept waiting.'

'It couldn't have been too long,' said George.