She made a gesture of feigned surprise. 'Oh, dear me! you have
company--I did not know; I'll drop in again.'

'Yes, do,' said Mahoudeau, looking very vexed. 'Besides, I am going
out; you can give me a sitting on Sunday.'

At this Claude, stupefied, fairly stared at the emaciated Mathilde,
and then at the huge vintaging woman.

'What?' he cried, 'is it madame who poses for that figure? The
dickens, you exaggerate!'

Then the laughter began again, while the sculptor stammered his
explanations. 'Oh! she only poses for the head and the hands, and
merely just to give me a few indications.'

Mathilde, however, laughed with the others, with a sharp, brazen-faced
laughter, showing the while the gaping holes in her mouth, where
several teeth were wanting.

'Yes,' resumed Mahoudeau. 'I have to go out on some business now.
Isn't it so, you fellows, we are expected over yonder?'

He had winked at his friends, feeling eager for a good lounge. They
all answered that they were expected, and helped him to cover the
figure of the vintaging girl with some strips of old linen which were
soaking in a pail of water.

However, Mathilde, looking submissive but sad, did not stir. She
merely shifted from one place to another, when they pushed against