`` Why , you see , he hates to travel , and I hate to keep still , so we each suit ourselves , and there is no trouble . I am often with him , and he enjoys my adventures , while I like to feel that someone is glad to see me when I get back from my wanderings . Dirty old hole , is n't it ? '' he added , with a look of disgust as they drove along the boulevard to the Place Napoleon in the old city . `` The dirt is picturesque , so I do n't mind . The river and the hills are delicious , and these glimpses of the narrow cross streets are my delight . Now we shall have to wait for that procession to pass . It 's going to the Church of St. John . '' While Laurie listlessly watched the procession of priests under their canopies , white-veiled nuns bearing lighted tapers , and some brotherhood in blue chanting as they walked , Amy watched him , and felt a new sort of shyness steal over her , for he was changed , and she could not find the merry-faced boy she left in the moody-looking man beside her . He was handsomer than ever and greatly improved , she thought , but now that the flush of pleasure at meeting her was over , he looked tired and spiritless -- not sick , nor exactly unhappy , but older and graver than a year or two of prosperous life should have made him . She could n't understand it and did not venture to ask questions , so she shook her head and touched up her ponies , as the procession wound away across the arches of the Paglioni bridge and vanished in the church . `` Que pensez-vous ? '' she said , airing her French , which had improved in quantity , if not in quality , since she came abroad . `` That mademoiselle has made good use of her time , and the result is charming , '' replied Laurie , bowing with his hand on his heart and an admiring look . She blushed with pleasure , but somehow the compliment did not satisfy her like the blunt praises he used to give her at home , when he promenaded round her on festival occasions , and told her she was ` altogether jolly ' , with a hearty smile and an approving pat on the head . She did n't like the new tone , for though not blase , it sounded indifferent in spite of the look . `` If that 's the way he 's going to grow up , I wish he 'd stay a boy , '' she thought , with a curious sense of disappointment and discomfort , trying meantime to seem quite easy and gay . At Avigdor 's she found the precious home letters and , giving the reins to Laurie , read them luxuriously as they wound up the shady road between green hedges , where tea roses bloomed as freshly as in June . `` Beth is very poorly , Mother says . I often think I ought to go home , but they all say ` stay ' .
So I do , for I shall never have another chance like this , '' XXXXX Amy , looking sober over one page .
added ask bowing came drove praises said stay watched wound