As soon as they were out of earshot, following the lower country road, Mrs. Florisonne glanced back and said:
“Edmond, don’t you think it was improper of us to leave those two young women to their fate like that? It seems to me we ought to have accompanied them home, as their protectors.”
“Go so far out of our way?” he said lightly. “No one appointed us their guardians. Luc Hancq is their friend; he was their father’s friend too. And they’re not young girls, at least not Marie. She must be thirty—yes, she must be thirty; ten years older than Georgine.”