"Oh! baby's all right. The nurse has been a little upset by the journey.
You might give us the address of your doctor."
"Yes, yes." I gave him the name instantly, hoping he would go.
"We don't need him right off; he can come here later, and you can talk to
him yourself. Maria does not speak French."
Mademoiselle gasped for breath, while he looked about him approvingly.
"Real nice house you have, Madame, not very central, but we don't mind
being in a quiet part of Paris, as Maria wants to learn French"; and
seeing the conservatory, he remarked: "Arthur can play in there. That'll
do splendidly." After an awkward pause: "Well, if the rooms are ready, we
can come right in. Maria will be wondering why I have been so long."
_I_ also wondered why he had been so long!
To cap the climax, he handed Mademoiselle a five-franc piece, saying: "I
guess this will cover the cab. The coachman can keep the change."
A light dawned on me! He thought this was a hotel!