My god-son, who has no rheumatism, goes in the
early morning to bathe in the lake, like a young god,
and towards ten o'clock he arrives at the Palace Hôtel
with his automobile and takes us, the Lussons and
me, for a drive in the environs. Josée, to whom
Madame de Lusson willingly gives up her seat, is get-
ting more and more devoted to this sport, which she
thinks more exciting than cycling. She does not fail
to express our delight to our driver, but he only
smiles vaguely. I am quite aware that the chauffeur
always belongs too much to his machine to be able to



Sl« ON THE BRANCH

think of anything else* He is always more or less
intoxicated with speed and air; I have therefore given
up my afternoon excursions, and sent my two young
people to tennis. A real mother could not be worse.
