Guests

Mamie Hortense

What they say

Coming in: "In my day we flipped them with one hand and rocked a baby with the other."

Pleased: "Nearly as good as mine. I'd adopt you, but I've run out of rooms."

So-so: "It's good, it's good. You're too thin, though."

Disappointed: "Oh, my poor rabbit. Sit down. I'll show you one day."

How they order

Mamie Hortense has 6 written orders of their own. A few of them:

"Butter. Real butter, with salt in it, like the good Lord and my mother intended. Folded in a hankie corner."

— that is La Toute Simple

"Raspberry jam, rolled like my late husband's newspaper. Golden, not anaemic."

— that is La Rouge-Gorge

"Ham and cheese, tucked in at the corners like a properly made bed."

— that is La Parisienne

After the first ten days they also make up orders in their own voice. Not sure? Ask "Pardon?" or "What do you mean?": see orders.

Crêpes they love

Their face is on those pages of the notebook.

Presents from the pedlar

From Yann the pedlar's cart: a ball of heather-grey wool and a jar-lid opener.

Friendship and presents

Spoiler What Mamie Hortense brings as you become friends

As you become friends:

  • A regular: "You are filling out nicely, my rabbit. So is your till."
  • A friend: "I knitted your lantern a little scarf. Do not argue, my rabbit."
  • A dear friend: "I have told my grandchildren you are their cousin now."
  • Family: "My door is never locked for you. Neither is my jam cupboard."

A present at a friend: Mamie Hortense has left a tin of chestnut cream on the sill, and a page she 'borrowed'.

Back in the notebook: La Tatin, lent 'for a week'. In the margin, in another hand: MORE BUTTER.

Guaranteed to come in on day 9 of the first ten days.