about five o’clock
No woman had ever spoken to him in that way before . Madame Francois seemed to him like some healthy , robust plant that had grown up with the vegetables in the leaf-mould of the garden ; while the Lisas , the Normans , and other pretty women of the markets appeared to him like flesh of doubtful freshness decked out for exhibition . He here enjoyed several hours of perfect well-being , delivered from all that reek of food which sickened him in the markets , and reviving to new life amidst the fertile atmosphere of the country , like that cabbage stalk which Claude declared he had seen sprout up more than half a score of times . The two men took leave of Madame Francois at about five o'clock . They had decided to walk back to Paris ; and the market gardener accompanied them into the lane . As she bade good-bye to Florent , she kept his hand in her own for a moment , and said gently : `` If ever anything happens to trouble you , remember to come to me . '' For a quarter of an hour Florent walked on without speaking , already getting gloomy again , and reflecting that he was leaving health behind him .