Suddenly the door opened, and a loud voice called out:
"Hallo! What now? Having breakfast without me!"
It was Cécile, just come from her bed, her eyes heavy with sleep. She had simply put up her hair and flung on a white woollen dressing-gown.
"No, no!" said the mother; "you see we are all waiting. Eh? has the wind prevented you from sleeping, poor darling?"
The young girl looked at her in great surprise.
"Has it been windy? I didn't know anything about it. I haven't moved all night."
Then they thought this funny, and all three began to laugh; the servants who were bringing in the breakfast also broke out laughing, so amused was the household at the idea that mademoiselle had been sleeping for twelve hours right off. The sight of the brioche completed the expansion of their faces.
"
