“Itisverystrange，“thoughtEmma，“howuglythischildis!“
Whenateleveno’clockCharlescamebackfromthechemist’sshop，whitherhehadgoneafterdinnertoreturntheremainderofthesticking-plaster，hefoundhiswifestandingbythecradle。
“Iassureyouit’snothing。“hesaid，kissingherontheforehead。“Don’tworry，mypoordarling；youwillmakeyourselfill。“
Hehadstayedalongtimeatthechemist’s。Althoughhehadnotseemedmuchmoved，Homais，nevertheless，hadexertedhimselftobuoyhimup，to“keepuphisspirits。“Thentheyhadtalkedofthevariousdangersthatthreatenchildhood，ofthecarelessnessofservants。MadameHomaisknewsomethingofit，havingstilluponherchestthemarksleftbyabasinfullofsoupthatacookhadformerlydroppedonherpinafore，andhergoodparentstooknoendoftroubleforher。Thekniveswerenotsharpened，northefloorswaxed；therewereirongratingstothewindowsandstrongbarsacrossthefireplace；thelittleHomais，inspiteoftheirspirit，couldnotstirwithoutsomeonewatchingthem；attheslightestcoldtheirfatherstuffedthemwithpectorals；anduntiltheywereturnedfourtheyall，withoutpity，hadtowearwaddedhead-protectors。This，itistrue，wasafancyofMadameHomais’；herhusbandwasinwardlyafflictedatit。Fearingthepossibleconsequencesofsuchcompressiontotheintellectualorgans。Heevenwentsofarastosaytoher，“DoyouwanttomakeCaribsorBotocudosofthem？“
Charles，however，hadseveraltimestriedtointerrupttheconversation。“Ishouldliketospeaktoyou，“hehadwhisperedintheclerk’sear，whowentupstairsinfrontofhim。