Marshall sat with Monsieur Dubois, in the man's modest parlor, room, if one could even call it a parlor room. Not that Marshall was judging or criticizing the family, though. He hadn't exactly grown up among the rich and privileged, himself. In all honesty, the entire situation was rather uncomfortable, and nerve racking for the young man. Monsieur Dubois was a a big man, bigger than him even, and Marshall was a good six feet tall. Marshall took a deep breath, to try and relax himself. All he wanted to ask for was a place to stay, for God's sake. It wasn't like he was going to ask this man if he could court his daughter! Why was Marshall so nervous, anyway?

The man of the house held out his hand to Marshall, apparently in an effort to put him at ease, "Je m'appelle Henri Dubois."

Marshall accepted the outstretched hand, and shook, "I'm Marshall, Marshall Stoddard."

"Well, Monsieur Stoddard," Monsieur Dubois began kindly, "my wife, Paulette tells me that you are looking to rent the open room upstairs."

"Yes, sir," Marshall answered simply.

"I have to say," Monsieur Dubois stroked his chin for a moment, "I had banked on renting to an older gentleman. I do have an impressionable teenage daughter and you are... how do you say, raging with hormones, non?"

Marshall cringed automatically, as Madame Dubois' voice filled the room, from somewhere else in the house, "Henri! Be polite!"

Monsieur Dubois shook his head, and leaned forward, as if he were going to tell Marshall a secret, "Women have excellent hearing."

"I heard that, Henri!"

Monsieur only raised his eyebrows in an 'I told you so' fashion. This was turning out to be a very strange evening for Marshall.

"I can assure you that I am an honorable man, sir."

"Honor and hormones are two completely different matters, non?"

"Henri!" shrieked his wife.

"Can you hold you're tongue for one minute, Paulette? What I say to our guest is my business!"

"Oh, I'll show you who's business it is later, Henri!" Madame Dubois shouted from inside the kitchen.

Marshall stole a quick glance towards the door. He was growing increasingly more frighted by the moment, and if this evening continued the way that it was, Marshall was going to make a break for it.

"About the room..." Monsieur Dubois continued.

"I'd stay at the tavern, believe me, sir, but the rooms there are so expensive, and I have no money as it is."

"I see," Monsieur Dubois resumed stroking his chin, "if you have no money, then how do you expect to pay for my room?"

Marshall was about to respond to Monsieur Dubois' legitimate question, when he was interrupted by the loud sound of crashing glass. Both Marshall and Monsieur Dubois looked up from their conversation, startled. As Marshall turned his head in the direction of the disturbance, his gaze only met that of a red faced girl.

The Stable boy recognized the girl as Ami. She had offered Marshall a glass of water, when he had first stopped by the residence, which resulted in Marshall repairing the family's pump. Marshall didn't mind at all, though. He actually quite liked working with his hands.

"Ami?" her father asked, "Were you eavesdropping on my conversation with Monsieur Stoddard?"

"No, Papa!" the young girl gasped, as she attempted to steady a wobbling table, "I was just passing by, and clumsily knocked over this vase."

"Well clean it up, and then head on up to bed."

"Oui, Papa," Ami replied, grabbing a broom.

Monsieur Dubois gestured to his daughter, "This is my daughter, Ami. Ami, welcome Monsieur properly."

"Bonsoir, Monsieur," Ami gave a little curtsy.

"Yes, we met earlier," Marshall then added after noticing Monsieur Dubois' raised eyebrow, "briefly."

"Ah, now where were we?" Monsieur Dubois asked again.

"About the issue of payment," Marshall rubbed the back of his neck, "I haven't got any money at the moment, but I have skills as a stable hand, and I've already been to see Monsieur Mercier. He gave me a job, and I start Monday... until then, I can do work around the house... anything that needs repair... perhaps..."

Monsieur Dubois turned his attention to his daughter, "You're taking quite the long time to pick up a few pieces of broken glass, Ami. Are you sure you aren't eavesdropping?"

"Non, Papa!" the girl cried, offended. Although, Marshall did notice that she was sweeping rather slowly. Teenagers. They always want to be in the middle of everything. It was a good thing that Marshall was a man now! He was above such petty, little things.

Monsieur Dubois again looked towards Marshall, "I suppose you have no other accommodations for tonight?"

"No, Sir," Marshall sheepishly confessed.

"Well, it simply won't do to have you sleeping outside... and you're sure that you have a job lined up?"

"Yes, Sir," the stable hand answered more confidently.

"All right, then," Monsieur Dubois nodded, "the room is yours. We can work out the technical aspects of your rent in the morning."

Ami suddenly jumped up from her sweeping, depositing the shards of glass into a nearby dustbin, "All done, Papa!" she chimed, walking over to her father and placing a kiss on his right cheek, "Bonne nuit."

"Bonne nuit," her father returned in kind, running a gentle hand across her face.

"Goodnight, Monsieur," Ami addressed to Marshall.

"Goodnight," Marshall smiled.

As Ami skipped out the door, Monsieur Dubois stood, "Well, I am off to bed, Monsieur. You are welcome to stay up, if you like, just be sure to douse the fire before you retire. You're room is just up the stairs... the first room on the left. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Marshall replied politely.

With that, Monsieur Dubois exited the parlor, leaving Marshall sitting alone, and gazing into the hot, roaring flames, burning in the hearth.

Quick French Lesson

Je m'appelle = My name is

Bonsoir = Good evening

Bonne nuit = Goodnight (Literally. Used if you are not going to see the other person again until the morning.)

Ultra Special Blah Blah Blah

Sorry, that this chapter is so short when compared to the other two chapters, but I didn't know what else to write. So there you have it, Marshall will be staying with the Dubois family! What do you guys think? Was Ami eavesdropping or not? What do you think about Henri Dubois? Paulette Dubois?

Come on Rintu, let's tiger, tiger roar!

xJadeRainx