V oreille basse. — And quite chop-fallen

169. A tire d'aile. — As fast as their wings could carry them.

170. Les père et mère. — The parents. Père et mère is thus found written in the singular even in the best authors ; it is then to be considered as an invariable compound noun. Pères et mères is also found. Usually it is préférable to repeat the article, possessive or démonstrative pronoun; as, Son père et sa mère, his parents, rather than Ses père et mère.

Je payai des petits verres à ce pauvre diable. — I treated the poor fellow several times. Petit verre generally means a small glass of brandy or other strong liquor.