第15章

Inthedistancetherewasagroupofwhite，unequal，flat，orpointedmountainsummits，whichglistenedinthesun;theMischabelwithitstwopeaks，thehugegroupoftheWeisshorn，theheavyBrunegghorn，theloftyandformidablepyramidofMountCervin，thatslayerofmen，andtheDent—

Blanche，thatmonstrouscoquette.

Thenbeneaththem，inatremendoushole，atthebottomofaterrificabyss，theyperceivedLoeche，wherehouseslookedasgrainsofsandwhichhadbeenthrownintothatenormouscrevicethatisendedandclosedbytheGemmiandwhichopens，downbelow，ontheRhone.

Themulestoppedattheedgeofthepath，whichwindsandturnscontinually，doublingbackward，then，fantasticallyandstrangely，alongthesideofthemountainasfarasthealmostinvisiblelittlevillageatitsfeet.Thewomenjumpedintothesnowandthetwooldmenjoinedthem."Well，"fatherHausersaid，"good—by，andkeepupyourspiritstillnextyear，myfriends，"andoldHarireplied："Tillnextyear."

TheyembracedeachotherandthenMadameHauserinherturnofferedhercheek，andthegirldidthesame.

WhenUlrichKunsi’sturncame，hewhisperedinLouise’sear，"Donotforgetthoseupyonder，"andshereplied，"No，"insuchalowvoicethatheguessedwhatshehadsaidwithouthearingit."Well，adieu，"JeanHauserrepeated，"anddon’tfallill."Andgoingbeforethetwowomen，hecommencedthedescent，andsoonallthreedisappearedatthefirstturnintheroad，whilethetwomenreturnedtotheinnatSchwarenbach.

Theywalkedslowly，sidebyside，withoutspeaking.Itwasover，andtheywouldbealonetogetherforfourorfivemonths.ThenGaspardHaribegantorelatehislifelastwinter.HehadremainedwithMichaelCanol，whowastoooldnowtostandit，foranaccidentmighthappenduringthatlongsolitude.Theyhadnotbeendull，however;theonlythingwastomakeupone’smindtoitfromthefirst，andintheendonewouldfindplentyofdistraction，gamesandothermeansofwhilingawaythetime.

UlrichKunsilistenedtohimwithhiseyesontheground，forinhisthoughtshewasfollowingthosewhoweredescendingtothevillage.Theysooncameinsightoftheinn，whichwas，however，scarcelyvisible，sosmalldiditlook，ablackspeckatthefootofthatenormousbillowofsnow，andwhentheyopenedthedoorSam，thegreatcurlydog，begantoromproundthem.

"Come，myboy，"oldGaspardsaid，"wehavenowomennow，sowemustgetourowndinnerready.Goandpeelthepotatoes."Andtheybothsatdownonwoodenstoolsandbegantopreparethesoup.

ThenextmorningseemedverylongtoKunsi.OldHarismokedandspatonthehearth，whiletheyoungmanlookedoutofthewindowatthesnow—

coveredmountainoppositethehouse.

Intheafternoonhewentout，andgoingoveryesterday’sgroundagain，helookedforthetracesofthemulethathadcarriedthetwowomen.ThenwhenhehadreachedtheGemmiPass，helaidhimselfdownonhisstomachandlookedatLoeche.

Thevillage，initsrockypit，wasnotyetburiedunderthesnow，fromwhichitwasshelteredbythepinewoodswhichprotecteditonallsides.

Itslowhouseslookedlikepavingstonesinalargemeadowfromabove.

Hauser’slittledaughterwastherenowinoneofthosegray—coloredhouses.Inwhich？UlrichKunsiwastoofarawaytobeabletomakethemoutseparately.Howhewouldhavelikedtogodownwhilehewasyetable！

ButthesunhaddisappearedbehindtheloftycrestoftheWildstrubelandtheyoungmanreturnedtothechalet.DaddyHariwassmoking，andwhenhesawhismatecomeinheproposedagameofcardstohim，andtheysatdownoppositeeachother，oneithersideofthetable.Theyplayedforalongtimeasimplegamecalledbrisqueandthentheyhadsupperandwenttobed.

Thefollowingdayswerelikethefirst，brightandcold，withoutanyfreshsnow.OldGaspardspenthisafternoonsinwatchingtheeaglesandotherrarebirdswhichventuredonthosefrozenheights，whileUlrichreturnedregularlytotheGemmiPasstolookatthevillage.Thentheyplayedcards，diceordominoesandlostandwonatrifle，justtocreateaninterestinthegame.

OnemorningHari，whowasupfirst，calledhiscompanion.Amoving，deepandlightcloudofwhitespraywasfallingonthemnoiselesslyandwasbydegreesburyingthemunderathick，heavycoverletoffoam.Thatlastedfourdaysandfournights.Itwasnecessarytofreethedoorandthewindows，todigoutapassageandtocutstepstogetoverthisfrozenpowder，whichatwelvehours’frosthadmadeashardasthegraniteofthemoraines.

Theylivedlikeprisonersanddidnotventureoutsidetheirabode.Theyhaddividedtheirduties，whichtheyperformedregularly.UlrichKunsiundertookthescouring，washingandeverythingthatbelongedtocleanliness.HealsochoppedupthewoodwhileGaspardHarididthecookingandattendedtothefire.Theirregularandmonotonousworkwasinterruptedbylonggamesatcardsordice，andtheyneverquarrelled，butwerealwayscalmandplacid.Theywereneverseenimpatientorill—

humored，nordidtheyeverusehardwords，fortheyhadlaidinastockofpatiencefortheirwinteringonthetopofthemountain.

SometimesoldGaspardtookhisrifleandwentafterchamois，andoccasionallyhekilledone.ThentherewasafeastintheinnatSchwarenbachandtheyrevelledinfreshmeat.Onemorninghewentoutasusual.Thethermometeroutsidemarkedeighteendegreesoffrost，andasthesunhadnotyetrisen，thehunterhopedtosurprisetheanimalsattheapproachestotheWildstrubel，andUlrich，beingalone，remainedinbeduntilteno’clock.Hewasofasleepynature，buthewouldnothavedaredtogivewaylikethattohisinclinationinthepresenceoftheoldguide，whowaseveranearlyriser.HebreakfastedleisurelywithSam，whoalsospenthisdaysandnightsinsleepinginfrontofthefire;thenhefeltlow—spiritedandevenfrightenedatthesolitude，andwas—seizedbyalongingforhisdailygameofcards，asoneisbythecravingofaconfirmedhabit，andsohewentouttomeethiscompanion，whowastoreturnatfouro’clock.

Thesnowhadlevelledthewholedeepvalley，filledupthecrevasses，obliteratedallsignsofthetwolakesandcoveredtherocks，sothatbetweenthehighsummitstherewasnothingbutanimmense，white，regular，dazzlingandfrozensurface.ForthreeweeksUlrichhadnotbeentotheedgeoftheprecipicefromwhichhehadlookeddownonthevillage，andhewantedtogotherebeforeclimbingtheslopeswhichledtoWildstrubel.Loechewasnowalsocoveredbythesnowandthehousescouldscarcelybedistinguished，coveredastheywerebythatwhitecloak.

Then，turningtotheright，hereachedtheLoemmernglacier.Hewentalongwithamountaineer’slongstrides，strikingthesnow，whichwasashardasarock，withhisironpointedstick，andwithhispiercingeyeshelookedforthelittleblack，movingspeckinthedistance，onthatenormous，whiteexpanse.

Whenhereachedtheendoftheglacierhestoppedandaskedhimselfwhethertheoldmanhadtakenthatroad，andthenhebegantowalkalongthemoraineswithrapidanduneasysteps.Thedaywasdeclining，thesnowwasassumingarosytint，andadry，frozenwindblewinroughgustsoveritscrystalsurface.Ulrichutteredalong，shrill，vibratingcall.

Hisvoicespedthroughthedeathlikesilenceinwhichthemountainsweresleeping;itreachedthedistance，acrossprofoundandmotionlesswavesofglacialfoam，likethecryofabirdacrossthewavesofthesea.

Thenitdiedawayandnothingansweredhim.

Hebegantowalkagain.Thesunhadsunkyonderbehindthemountaintops，whichwerestillpurplewiththereflectionfromthesky，butthedepthsofthevalleywerebecominggray，andsuddenlytheyoungmanfeltfrightened.Itseemedtohimasifthesilence，thecold，thesolitude，thewinterdeathofthesemountainsweretakingpossessionofhim，weregoingtostopandtofreezehisblood，tomakehislimbsgrowstiffandtoturnhimintoamotionlessandfrozenobject，andhesetoffrunning，fleeingtowardhisdwelling.Theoldman，hethought，wouldhavereturnedduringhisabsence.Hehadtakenanotherroad;hewould，nodoubt，besittingbeforethefire，withadeadchamoisathisfeet.

Hesooncameinsightoftheinn，butnosmokerosefromit.Ulrichwalkedfasterandopenedthedoor.Samranuptohimtogreethim，butGaspardHarihadnotreturned.Kunsi，inhisalarm，turnedroundsuddenly，asifhehadexpectedtofindhiscomradehiddeninacorner.

Thenherelightedthefireandmadethesoup，hopingeverymomenttoseetheoldmancomein.Fromtimetotimehewentouttoseeifhewerenotcoming.Itwasquitenightnow，thatwan，lividnightofthemountains，lightedbyathin，yellowcrescentmoon，justdisappearingbehindthemountaintops.

Thentheyoungmanwentinandsatdowntowarmhishandsandfeet，whilehepicturedtohimselfeverypossibleaccident.Gaspardmighthavebrokenaleg，havefallenintoacrevasse，takenafalsestepanddislocatedhisankle.And，perhaps，hewaslyingonthesnow，overcomeandstiffwiththecold，inagonyofmind，lostand，perhaps，shoutingforhelp，callingwithallhismightinthesilenceofthenight

Butwhere？Themountainwassovast，sorugged，sodangerousinplaces，especiallyatthattimeoftheyear，thatitwouldhaverequiredtenortwentyguidestowalkforaweekinalldirectionstofindamaninthatimmensespace.UlrichKunsi，however，madeuphismindtosetoutwithSamifGasparddidnotreturnbyoneinthemorning，andhemadehispreparations.

Heputprovisionsfortwodaysintoabag，tookhissteelclimbingiron，tiedalong，thin，strongroperoundhiswaist，andlookedtoseethathisironshodstickandhisaxe，whichservedtocutstepsintheice，wereinorder.Thenhewaited.Thefirewasburningonthehearth，thegreatdogwassnoringinfrontofit，andtheclockwasticking，asregularlyasaheartbeating，initsresoundingwoodencase.

Hewaited，withhisearsonthealertfordistantsounds，andheshiveredwhenthewindblewagainsttheroofandthewalls.Itstrucktwelveandhetrembled：Then，frightenedandshivering，heputsomewateronthefire，sothathemighthavesomehotcoffeebeforestarting，andwhentheclockstruckonehegotup，wokeSam，openedthedoorandwentoffinthedirectionoftheWildstrubel.Forfivehourshemounted，scalingtherocksbymeansofhisclimbingirons，cuttingintotheice，advancingcontinually，andoccasionallyhaulingupthedog，whoremainedbelowatthefootofsomeslopethatwastoosteepforhim，bymeansoftherope.

Itwasaboutsixo’clockwhenhereachedoneofthesummitstowhicholdGaspardoftencameafterchamois，andhewaitedtillitshouldbedaylight.

Theskywasgrowingpaleoverhead，andastrangelight，springingnobodycouldtellwhence，suddenlyilluminatedtheimmenseoceanofpalemountainsummits，whichextendedforahundredleaguesaroundhim.Onemighthavesaidthatthisvaguebrightnessarosefromthesnowitselfandspreadabroadinspace.Bydegreesthehighestdistantsummitsassumedadelicate，pinkfleshcolor，andtheredsunappearedbehindtheponderousgiantsoftheBerneseAlps.

UlrichKunsisetoffagain，walkinglikeahunter，bentover，lookingfortracks，andsayingtohisdog："Seek，oldfellow，seek！"

Hewasdescendingthemountainnow，scanningthedepthsclosely，andfromtimetotimeshouting，utteringaloud，prolongedcry，whichsoondiedawayinthatsilentvastness.Thenheputhiseartothegroundtolisten.Hethoughthecoulddistinguishavoice，andhebegantorunandshoutedagain，butheheardnothingmoreandsatdown，exhaustedandindespair.TowardmiddayhebreakfastedandgaveSam，whowasastiredashimself，somethingtoeatalso，andthenherecommencedhissearch.

Wheneveningcamehewasstillwalking，andhehadwalkedmorethanthirtymilesoverthemountains.Ashewastoofarawaytoreturnhomeandtootiredtodraghimselfalonganyfurther，hedugaholeinthesnowandcrouchedinitwithhisdogunderablanketwhichhehadbroughtwithhim.Andthemanandthedoglaysidebyside，tryingtokeepwarm，butfrozentothemarrownevertheless.Ulrichscarcelyslept，hismindhauntedbyvisionsandhislimbsshakingwithcold.

Daywasbreakingwhenhegotup.Hislegswereasstiffasironbarsandhisspiritssolowthathewasreadytocrywithanguish，whilehisheartwasbeatingsothathealmostfelloverwithagitation，whenhethoughtheheardanoise.

Suddenlyheimaginedthathealsowasgoingtodieofcoldinthemidstofthisvastsolitude，andtheterrorofsuchadeathrousedhisenergiesandgavehimrenewedvigor.Hewasdescendingtowardtheinn，fallingdownandgettingupagain，andfollowedatadistancebySam，whowaslimpingonthreelegs，andtheydidnotreachSchwarenbachuntilfouro’clockintheafternoon.Thehousewasemptyandtheyoungmanmadeafire，hadsomethingtoeatandwenttosleep，sowornoutthathedidnotthinkofanythingmore.

Hesleptforalongtime，foraverylongtime，anirresistiblesleep.

Butsuddenlyavoice，acry，aname，"Ulrich！"arousedhimfromhisprofoundtorporandmadehimsitupinbed.Hadhebeendreaming？Wasitoneofthosestrangeappealswhichcrossthedreamsofdisquietedminds？No，hehearditstill，thatreverberatingcry—whichhadenteredhisearsandremainedinhisflesh—tothetipsofhissinewyfingers.

Certainlysomebodyhadcriedoutandcalled"Ulrich！"Therewassomebodytherenearthehouse，therecouldbenodoubtofthat，andheopenedthedoorandshouted，"Isityou，Gaspard？"withallthestrengthofhislungs.Buttherewasnoreply，nomurmur，nogroan，nothing.Itwasquitedarkandthesnowlookedwan.

Thewindhadrisen，thaticywindthatcrackstherocksandleavesnothingaliveonthosedesertedheights，anditcameinsuddengusts，whichweremoreparchingandmoredeadlythantheburningwindofthedesert，andagainUlrichshouted："Gaspard！Gaspard！Gaspard."Andthenhewaitedagain.Everythingwassilentonthemountain.

Thenheshookwithterrorandwithaboundhewasinsidetheinn，whenheshutandboltedthedoor，andthenhefellintoachairtremblingallover，forhefeltcertainthathiscomradehadcalledhimatthemomenthewasexpiring.

Hewassureofthat，assureasoneisofbeingaliveorofeatingapieceofbread.OldGaspardHarihadbeendyingfortwodaysandthreenightssomewhere，insomehole，inoneofthosedeep，untroddenravineswhosewhitenessismoresinisterthansubterraneandarkness.Hehadbeendyingfortwodaysandthreenightsandbehadjustthendied，thinkingofhiscomrade.Hissoul，almostbeforeitwasreleased，hadtakenitsflighttotheinnwhereUlrichwassleeping，andithadcalledhimbythatterribleandmysteriouspowerwhichthespiritsofthedeadhavetohaunttheliving.Thatvoicelesssoulhadcriedtotheworn—outsoulofthesleeper;ithaduttereditslastfarewell，oritsreproach，oritscurseonthemanwhohadnotsearchedcarefullyenough.

AndUlrichfeltthatitwasthere，quiteclosetohim，behindthewall，behindthedoorwhichbehadjustfastened.Itwaswanderingabout，likeanightbirdwhichlightlytouchesalightedwindowwithhiswings，andtheterrifiedyoungmanwasreadytoscreamwithhorror.Hewantedtorunaway，butdidnotdaretogoout;hedidnotdare，andheshouldneverdaretodoitinthefuture，forthatphantomwouldremaintheredayandnight，roundtheinn，aslongastheoldman’sbodywasnotrecoveredandhadnotbeendepositedintheconsecratedearthofachurchyard.

WhenitwasdaylightKunsirecoveredsomeofhiscourageatthereturnofthebrightsun.Hepreparedhismeal，gavehisdogsomefoodandthenremainedmotionlessonachair，torturedatheartashethoughtoftheoldmanlyingonthesnow，andthen，assoonasnightoncemorecoveredthemountains，newterrorsassailedhim.Henowwalkedupanddownthedarkkitchen，whichwasscarcelylightedbytheflameofonecandle，andhewalkedfromoneendofittotheotherwithgreatstrides，listening，listeningwhethertheterriblecryoftheothernightwouldagainbreakthedrearysilenceoutside.Hefelthimselfalone，unhappyman，asnomanhadeverbeenalonebefore！HewasaloneinthisimmensedesertofSnow，alonefivethousandfeetabovetheinhabitedearth，abovehumanhabitation，abovethatstirring，noisy，palpitatinglife，aloneunderanicysky！Amadlongingimpelledhimtorunaway，nomatterwhere，togetdowntoLoechebyflinginghimselfovertheprecipice;buthedidnotevendaretoopenthedoor，ashefeltsurethattheother，thedeadman，wouldbarhisroad，sothathemightnotbeobligedtoremainuptherealone：

Towardmidnight，tiredwithwalking，wornoutbygriefandfear，heatlastfellintoadozeinhischair，forhewasafraidofhisbedasoneisofahauntedspot.Butsuddenlythestridentcryoftheothereveningpiercedhisears，anditwassoshrillthatUlrichstretchedouthisarmstorepulsetheghost，andhefellbackwardwithhischair.

Sam，whowasawakenedbythenoise，begantohowlasfrighteneddogsdohowl，andhewalkedallaboutthehousetryingtofindoutwherethedangercamefrom.Whenhegottothedoor，hesniffedbeneathit，smellingvigorously，withhiscoatbristlingandhistailstiff，whilehegrowledangrily.Kunsi，whowasterrified，jumpedup，and，holdinghischairbyoneleg，hecried："Don’tcomein，don’tcomein，orIshallkillyou."Andthedog，excitedbythisthreat，barkedangrilyatthatinvisibleenemywhodefiedhismaster’svoice.Bydegrees，however，hequieteddownandcamebackandstretchedhimselfinfrontofthefire，buthewasuneasyandkepthisheadupandgrowledbetweenhisteeth.

Ulrich，inturn，recoveredhissenses，butashefeltfaintwithterror，hewentandgotabottleofbrandyoutofthesideboard，andhedrankoffseveralglasses，oneafteranther，atagulp.Hisideasbecamevague，hiscouragerevivedandafeverishglowranthroughhisveins.

Heatescarcelyanythingthenextdayandlimitedhimselftoalcohol，andsohelivedforseveraldays，likeadrunkenbrute.AssoonashethoughtofGaspardHari，hebegantodrinkagain，andwentondrinkinguntilhefelltotheground，overcomebyintoxication.Andthereheremainedlyingonhisface，deaddrunk，hislimbsbenumbed，andsnoringloudly.Butscarcelyhadhedigestedthemaddeningandburningliquorthanthesamecry，"Ulrich！"wokehimlikeabulletpiercinghisbrain，andhegotup，stillstaggering，stretchingouthishandstosavehimselffromfalling，andcallingtoSamtohelphim.Andthedog，whoappearedtobegoingmadlikehismaster，rushedtothedoor，scratcheditwithhisclawsandgnaweditwithhislongwhiteteeth，whiletheyoungman，withhisheadthrownbackdrankthebrandyindraughts，asifithadbeencoldwater，sothatitmightbyandbysendhisthoughts，hisfranticterror，andhismemorytosleepagain.

Inthreeweekshehadconsumedallhisstockofardentspirits.Buthiscontinualdrunkennessonlylulledhisterror，whichawokemorefuriouslythaneverassoonasitwasimpossibleforhimtocalmit.Hisfixedideathen，whichhadbeenintensifiedbyamonthofdrunkenness，andwhichwascontinuallyincreasinginhisabsolutesolitude，penetratedhimlikeagimlet.Henowwalkedaboutthehouselikeawildbeastinitscage，puttinghiseartothedoortolisteniftheotherwerethereanddefyinghimthroughthewall.Then，assoonashedozed，overcomebyfatigue，heheardthevoicewhichmadehimleaptohisfeet.

Atlastonenight，ascowardsdowhendriventoextremities，hesprangtothedoorandopenedit，toseewhowascallinghimandtoforcehimtokeepquiet，butsuchagustofcoldwindblewintohisfacethatitchilledhimtothebone，andheclosedandboltedthedooragainimmediately，withoutnoticingthatSamhadrushedout.Then，ashewasshiveringwithcold，hethrewsomewoodonthefireandsatdowninfrontofittowarmhimself，butsuddenlyhestarted，forsomebodywasscratchingatthewallandcrying.Indesperationhecalledout："Goaway！"butwasansweredbyanotherlong，sorrowfulwail.

Thenallhisremainingsensesforsookhimfromsheerfright.Herepeated："Goaway！"andturnedroundtotrytofindsomecornerinwhichtohide，whiletheotherpersonwentroundthehousestillcryingandrubbingagainstthewall.Ulrichwenttotheoaksideboard，whichwasfullofplatesanddishesandofprovisions，andliftingitupwithsuperhumanstrength，hedraggedittothedoor，soastoformabarricade.Thenpilingupalltherestofthefurniture，themattresses，palliassesandchairs，hestoppedupthewindowsasonedoeswhenassailedbyanenemy.

Butthepersonoutsidenowutteredlong，plaintive，mournfulgroans，towhichtheyoungmanrepliedbysimilargroans，andthusdaysandnightspassedwithouttheirceasingtohowlateachother.Theonewascontinuallywalkingroundthehouseandscrapedthewallswithhisnailssovigorouslythatitseemedasifhewishedtodestroythem，whiletheother，inside，followedallhismovements，stoopingdownandholdinghiseartothewallsandreplyingtoallhisappealswithterriblecries.

Oneevening，however，Ulrichheardnothingmore，andhesatdown，soovercomebyfatigue，thathewenttosleepimmediatelyandawokeinthemorningwithoutathought，withoutanyrecollectionofwhathadhappened，justasifhisheadhadbeenemptiedduringhisheavysleep，buthefelthungry，andheate.

ThewinterwasoverandtheGemmiPasswaspracticableagain，sotheHauserfamilystartedofftoreturntotheirinn.Assoonastheyhadreachedthetopoftheascentthewomenmountedtheirmuleandspokeaboutthetwomenwhomtheywouldmeetagainshortly.Theywere，indeed，rathersurprisedthatneitherofthemhadcomedownafewdaysbefore，assoonastheroadwasopen，inordertotellthemallabouttheirlongwintersojourn.Atlast，however，theysawtheinn，stillcoveredwithsnow，likeaquilt.Thedoorandthewindowwereclosed，butalittlesmokewascomingoutofthechimney，whichreassuredoldHauser.Ongoinguptothedoor，however，hesawtheskeletonofananimalwhichhadbeentorntopiecesbytheeagles，alargeskeletonlyingonitsside.

Theyalllookedcloseatitandthemothersaid：

"ThatmustbeSam，"andthensheshouted："Hi，Gaspard！"Acryfromtheinteriorofthehouseansweredherandasharpcrythatonemighthavethoughtsomeanimalhadutteredit.OldHauserrepeated，"Hi，Gaspard！"

andtheyheardanothercrysimilartothefirst.

Thenthethreemen，thefatherandthetwosons，triedtoopenthedoor，butitresistedtheirefforts.Fromtheemptycow—stalltheytookabeamtoserveasabattering—ramandhurleditagainstthedoorwithalltheirmight.Thewoodgavewayandtheboardsflewintosplinters.Thenthehousewasshakenbyaloudvoice，andinside，behindthesideboardwhichwasoverturned，theysawamanstandingupright，withhishairfallingonhisshouldersandabearddescendingtofallingonhisshouldersandabearddescendingto

OriginalShortStories，Vol.5.

ByGuydeMaupassantVOLUMEV.

MONSIEURPARENT

QUEENHORTENSE

TIMBUCTOO

TOMBSTONES

MADEMOISELLEPEARL

THETHIEF

CLAIRDELUNE

WAITER，A"BOCK"

AFTER

FORGIVENESS

INTHESPRING

AQUEERNIGHTINPARIS

MONSIEURPARENT

George’sfatherwassittinginanironchair，watchinghislittlesonwithconcentratedaffectionandattention，aslittleGeorgepiledupthesandintoheapsduringoneoftheirwalks.Hewouldtakeupthesandwithbothhands，makeamoundofit，andputachestnutleafontop.

Hisfathersawnoonebuthiminthatpublicparkfullofpeople.

ThesunwasjustdisappearingbehindtheroofsoftheRueSaint—Lazare，butstillsheditsraysobliquelyonthatlittle，overdressedcrowd.

Thechestnuttreeswerelightedupbyitsyellowrays，andthethreefountainsbeforetheloftyporchofthechurchhadtheappearanceofliquidsilver.

MonsieurParent，accidentallylookingupatthechurchclock，sawthathewasfiveminuteslate.Hegotup，tookthechildbythearm，shookhisdress，whichwascoveredwithsand，wipedhishands，andledhiminthedirectionoftheRueBlanche.Hewalkedquickly，soasnottogetinafterhiswife，andthechildcouldnotkeepupwithhim.Hetookhimupandcarriedhim，thoughitmadehimpantwhenhehadtowalkupthesteepstreet.Hewasamanofforty，alreadyturninggray，andratherstout.

Atlasthereachedhishouse.Anoldservantwhohadbroughthimup，oneofthosetrustedservantswhoarethetyrantsoffamilies，openedthedoortohim.

"Hasmadamecomeinyet？"heaskedanxiously.

Theservantshruggedhershoulders：

"Whenhaveyoueverknownmadametocomehomeathalf—pastsix，monsieur？"

"Verywell;allthebetter;itwillgivemetimetochangemythings，forIamverywarm."

Theservantlookedathimwithangryandcontemptuouspity."Oh，Icanseethatwellenough，"shegrumbled."Youarecoveredwithperspiration，monsieur.Isupposeyouwalkedquicklyandcarriedthechild，andonlytohavetowaituntilhalf—pastseven，perhaps，formadame.Ihavemadeupmymindnottohavedinnerreadyontime.Ishallgetitforeighto’clock，andif，youhavetowait，Icannothelpit;roastmeatoughtnottobeburnt！"

MonsieurParentpretendednottohear，butwentintohisownroom，andassoonashegotin，lockedthedoor，soastobealone，quitealone.Hewassousednowtobeingabusedandbadlytreatedthatheneverthoughthimselfsafeexceptwhenhewaslockedin.

Whatcouldhedo？TogetridofJulieseemedtohimsuchaformidablethingtodothathehardlyventuredtothinkofit，butitwasjustasimpossibletoupholdheragainsthiswife，andbeforeanothermonththesituationwouldbecomeunbearablebetweenthetwo.Heremainedsittingthere，withhisarmshangingdown，vaguelytryingtodiscoversomemeanstosetmattersstraight，butwithoutsuccess.Hesaidtohimself："ItisluckythatIhaveGeorge;withouthimIshould—beverymiserable."

Justthentheclockstruckseven，andhestartedup.Seveno’clock，andhehadnotevenchangedhisclothes.Nervousandbreathless，heundressed，putonacleanshirt，hastilyfinishedhistoilet，asifhehadbeenexpectedinthenextroomforsomeeventofextremeimportance，andwentintothedrawing—room，happyathavingnothingtofear.Heglancedatthenewspaper，wentandlookedoutofthewindow，andthensatdownagain，whenthedooropened，andtheboycamein，washed，brushed，andsmiling.Parenttookhimupinhisarmsandkissedhimpassionately;

thenhetossedhimintotheair，andheldhimuptotheceiling，butsoonsatdownagain，ashewastiredwithallhisexertion.Then，takingGeorgeonhisknee，hemadehimridea—cock—horse.Thechildlaughedandclappedhishandsandshoutedwithpleasure，asdidhisfather，wholaugheduntilhisbigstomachshook，foritamusedhimalmostmorethanitdidthechild.

Parentlovedhimwithalltheheartofaweak，resigned，ill—usedman.

Helovedhimwithmadburstsofaffection，withcaressesandwithallthebashfultendernesswhichwashiddeninhim，andwhichhadneverfoundanoutlet，evenattheearlyperiodofhismarriedlife，forhiswifehadalwaysshownherselfcoldandreserved.

JustthenJuliecametothedoor，withapalefaceandglisteningeyes，andsaidinavoicewhichtrembledwithexasperation："Itishalf—pastseven，monsieur."

Parentgaveanuneasyandresignedlookattheclockandreplied："Yes，itcertainlyishalf—pastseven."

"Well，mydinnerisquitereadynow."

Seeingthestormwhichwascoming，hetriedtoturnitaside."ButdidyounottellmewhenIcameinthatitwouldnotbereadybeforeeight？"

"Eight！whatareyouthinkingabout？Yousurelydonotmeantoletthechilddineateighto’clock？Itwouldruinhisstomach.Justsupposethatheonlyhadhismothertolookafterhim！Shecaresagreatdealaboutherchild.Oh，yes，wewillspeakabouther;sheisamother！

Whatapityitisthatthereshouldbeanymotherslikeher！"

Parentthoughtitwastimetocutshortathreatenedscene."Julie，"hesaid，"Iwillnotallowyoutospeaklikethatofyourmistress.Youunderstandme，doyounot？Donotforgetitinthefuture."

Theoldservant，whowasnearlychokedwithsurprise，turnedandwentout，slammingthedoorsoviolentlyafterherthatthelustresonthechandelierrattled，andforsomesecondsitsoundedasifanumberoflittleinvisiblebellswereringinginthedrawing—room.

Eighto’clockstruck，thedooropened，andJuliecameinagain.Shehadlostherlookofexasperation，butnowsheputonanairofcoldanddeterminedresolution，whichwasstillmoreformidable.

"Monsieur，"shesaid，"Iservedyourmotheruntilthedayofherdeath，andIhaveattendedtoyoufromyourbirthuntilnow，andIthinkitmaybesaidthatIamdevotedtothefamily."Shewaitedforareply，andParentstammered：

"Why，yes，certainly，mygoodJulie."

"Youknowquitewell，"shecontinued，"thatIhaveneverdoneanythingforthesakeofmoney，butalwaysforyoursake;thatIhaveneverdeceivedyounorliedtoyou，thatyouhaveneverhadtofindfaultwithme——"

"Certainly，mygoodJulie."

"Verywell，then，monsieur;itcannotgoonanylongerlikethis.Ihavesaidnothing，andleftyouinyourignorance，outofrespectandlikingforyou，butitistoomuch，andeveryoneintheneighborhoodislaughingatyou.Everybodyknowsaboutit，andsoImusttellyoualso，althoughIdonotliketorepeatit.Thereasonwhymadamecomesinatanytimeshechoosesisthatsheisdoingabominablethings."

Heseemedstupefiedandnottounderstand，andcouldonlystammerout：

"Holdyourtongue;youknowIhaveforbiddenyou————"

Butsheinterruptedhimwithirresistibleresolution."No，monsieur，I

musttellyoueverythingnow.ForalongtimemadamehasbeencarryingonwithMonsieurLimousin.Ihaveseenthemkissscoresoftimesbehindthedoor.Ah！youmaybesurethatifMonsieurLimousinhadbeenrich，madamewouldneverhavemarriedMonsieurParent.Ifyourememberhowthemarriagewasbroughtabout，youwouldunderstandthematterfrombeginningtoend."

Parenthadrisen，andstammeredout，hisfacelivid："Holdyourtongue—

holdyourtongue，or————"

Shewenton，however："No，Imeantotellyoueverything.Shemarriedyoufrominterest，andshedeceivedyoufromtheveryfirstday.Itwasallsettledbetweenthembeforehand.Youneedonlyreflectforafewmomentstounderstandit，andthen，asshewasnotsatisfiedwithhavingmarriedyou，asshedidnotloveyou，shehasmadeyourlifemiserable，somiserablethatithasalmostbrokenmyheartwhenIhaveseenit."

Hewalkedupanddowntheroomwithhandsclenched，repeating："Holdyourtongue——holdyourtongue————"Forhecouldfindnothingelsetosay.

Theoldservant，however，wouldnotyield;sheseemedresolvedoneverything.

George，whohadbeenatfirstastonishedandthenfrightenedatthoseangryvoices，begantouttershrillscreams，andremainedbehindhisfather，withhisfacepuckeredupandhismouthopen，roaring.

Hisson’sscreamsexasperatedParent，andfilledhimwithrageandcourage.HerushedatJuliewithbotharmsraised，readytostrikeher，exclaiming："Ah！youwretch.Youwilldrivethechildoutofhissenses."Healreadyhadhishandonher，whenshescreamedinhisface：

"Monsieur，youmaybeatmeifyoulike，mewhorearedyou，butthatwillnotpreventyourwifefromdeceivingyou，oralterthefactthatyourchildisnotyours————"

Hestoppedsuddenly，lethisarmsfall，andremainedstandingoppositetoher，sooverwhelmedthathecouldunderstandnothingmore.

"Youneedonlytolookatthechild，"sheadded，"toknowwhoisitsfather！HeistheveryimageofMonsieurLimousin.Youneedonlylookathiseyesandforehead.Why，ablindmancouldnotbemistakeninhim."

Hehadtakenherbytheshoulders，andwasnowshakingherwithallhismight."Viper，viper！"hesaid."Goouttheroom，viper！Goout，orI

shallkillyou！Goout！Goout！"

Andwithadesperateefforthethrewherintothenextroom.Shefellacrossthetable，whichwaslaidfordinner，breakingtheglasses.Then，risingtoherfeet，sheputthetablebetweenhermasterandherself.

Whilehewaspursuingher，inordertotakeholdofheragain，sheflungterriblewordsathim.

"Youneedonlygooutthiseveningafterdinner，andcomeinagainimmediately，andyouwillsee！YouwillseewhetherIhavebeenlying！

Justtryit，andyouwillsee."Shehadreachedthekitchendoorandescaped，butheranafterher，upthebackstairstoherbedroom，intowhichshehadlockedherself，andknockingatthedoor，hesaid：

"Youwillleavemyhousethisveryinstant！"

"Youmaybecertainofthat，monsieur，"washerreply."Inanhour’stimeIshallnotbehereanylonger."

Hethenwentslowlydownstairsagain，holdingontothebanistersoasnottofall，andwentbacktothedrawing—room，wherelittleGeorgewassittingonthefloor，crying.Hefellintoachair，andlookedatthechildwithdulleyes.Heunderstoodnothing，knewnothingmore;hefeltdazed，stupefied，mad，asifhehadjustfallenonhishead，andhescarcelyevenrememberedthedreadfulthingstheservanthadtoldhim.

Then，bydegrees，hismind，likemuddywater，becamecalmerandclearer，andtheabominablerevelationsbegantoworkinhisheart.

HewasnolongerthinkingofGeorge.Thechildwasquietnowandsittingonthecarpet;but，seeingthatnonoticewasbeingtakenofhim，hebegantocry.Hisfatherrantohim，tookhiminhisarms，andcoveredhimwithkisses.Hischildremainedtohim，atanyrate！Whatdidtherestmatter？Heheldhiminhisarmsandpressedhislipstohislighthair，and，relievedandcomposed，hewhispered：

"George——mylittleGeorge——mydearlittleGeorge————"ButhesuddenlyrememberedwhatJuliehadsaid！Yes，shehadsaidthathewasLimousin’schild.Oh！itcouldnotbepossible，surely.Hecouldnotbelieveit，couldnotdoubt，evenforamoment，thathewashisownchild.Itwasoneofthoselowscandalswhichspringfromservants’brains！Andherepeated："George——mydearlittleGeorge."Theyoungsterwasquietagain，nowthathisfatherwasfondlinghim.

Parentfeltthewarmthofthelittlechestpenetratethroughhisclothes，anditfilledhimwithlove，courage，andhappiness;thatgentlewarmthsoothedhim，fortifiedhimandsavedhim.Thenheputthesmall，curlyheadawayfromhimalittle，andlookedatitaffectionately，stillrepeating："George！Oh，mylittleGeorge！"Butsuddenlyhethought：

"SupposeheweretoresembleLimousin，afterall！"Helookedathimwithhaggard，troubledeyes，andtriedtodiscoverwhethertherewasanylikenessinhisforehead，inhisnose，mouth，orcheeks.Histhoughtswanderedastheydowhenapersonisgoingmad，andhischild’sfacechangedinhiseyes，andassumedastrangelookandimprobableresemblances.

Thehallbellrang.Parentgaveaboundasifabullethadgonethroughhim."Theresheis，"hesaid."WhatshallIdo？"Andheranandlockedhimselfupinhisroom，tohavetimetobathehiseyes.Butinafewmomentsanotherringatthebellmadehimjumpagain，andthenherememberedthatJuliehadleft，withoutthehousemaidknowingit，andsonobodywouldgotoopenthedoor.Whatwashetodo？Hewenthimself，andsuddenlyhefeltbrave，resolute，readyfordissimulationandthestruggle.Theterribleblowhadmaturedhiminafewmoments.Hewishedtoknowthetruth，hedesireditwiththerageofatimidman，andwiththetenacityofaneasy—goingmanwhohasbeenexasperated.

Nevertheless，hetrembled.Doesoneknowhowmuchexcitedcowardicethereoftenisinboldness？Hewenttothedoorwithfurtivesteps，andstoppedtolisten;hisheartbeatfuriously.Suddenly，however，thenoiseofthebelloverhisheadstartledhimlikeanexplosion.Heseizedthelock，turnedthekey，andopeningthedoor，sawhiswifeandLimousinstandingbeforehimonthestairs.

Withanairofastonishment，whichalsobetrayedalittleirritation，shesaid：

"Soyouopenthedoornow？WhereisJulie？"

Histhroatfelttightandhisbreathingwaslaboredashetriedto.

reply，withoutbeingabletoutteraword.

"Areyoudumb？"shecontinued."IaskedyouwhereJulieis？"

"She——she——has——gone————"hemanagedtostammer.

Hiswifebegantogetangry."Whatdoyoumeanbygone？Wherehasshegone？Why？"

Bydegreesheregainedhiscoolness.Hefeltanintensehatredriseupinhimforthatinsolentwomanwhowasstandingbeforehim.

"Yes，shehasgonealtogether.Isentheraway."

"YouhavesentawayJulie？Why，youmustbemad."

"Yes，Isentherawaybecauseshewasinsolent，andbecause——becauseshewasill—usingthechild."

"Julie？"

"Yes——Julie."

"Whatwassheinsolentabout？"

"Aboutyou."

"Aboutme？"

"Yes，becausethedinnerwasburnt，andyoudidnotcomein."

"Andshesaid————"

"Shesaid——offensivethingsaboutyou——whichIoughtnot——whichIcouldnotlistento————"

"Whatdidshe，say？"

"Itisnogoodrepeatingthem."

"Iwanttohearthem."

"Shesaiditwasunfortunateforamanlikemetobemarriedtoawomanlikeyou，unpunctual，careless，disorderly，abadmother，andabadwife."

Theyoungwomanhadgoneintotheanteroom，followedbyLimousin，whodidnotsayawordatthisunexpectedconditionofthings.Sheshutthedoorquickly，threwhercloakonachair，andgoingstraightuptoherhusband，shestammeredout：

"Yousay？Yousay？ThatIam————"

Verypaleandcalm，hereplied："Isaynothing，mydear.IamsimplyrepeatingwhatJuliesaidtome，asyouwantedtoknowwhatitwas，andI

wishyoutoremarkthatIturnedheroffjustonaccountofwhatshesaid."

Shetrembledwithaviolentlongingtotearouthisbeardandscratchhisface.Inhisvoiceandmannershefeltthathewasassertinghispositionasmaster.Althoughshehadnothingtosaybywayofreply，shetriedtoassumetheoffensivebysayingsomethingunpleasant."Isupposeyouhavehaddinner？"sheasked.

"No，Iwaitedforyou."

Sheshruggedhershouldersimpatiently."Itisverystupidofyoutowaitafterhalf—pastseven，"shesaid."YoumighthaveguessedthatI

wasdetained，thatIhadagoodmanythingstodo，visitsandshopping，"

Andthen，suddenly，shefeltthatshewantedtoexplainhowshehadspenthertime，andtoldhiminabrupt，haughtywordsthat，havingtobuysomefurnitureinashopalongdistanceoff，veryfaroff，intheRuedeRennes，shehadmetLimousinatpastseveno’clockontheBoulevardSaint—Germain，andthatthenshehadgonewithhimtohavesomethingtoeatinarestaurant，asshedidnotliketogotoonebyherself，althoughshewasfaintwithhunger.ThatwashowshehaddinedwithLimousin，ifitcouldbecalleddining，fortheyhadonlysomesoupandhalfachicken，astheywereinagreathurrytogetback.

Parentrepliedsimply："Well，youwerequiteright.Iamnotfindingfaultwithyou."

ThenLimousin，who，hadnotspokentillthen，andwhohadbeenhalfhiddenbehindHenriette，cameforwardandputouthishand，saying："Areyouverywell？"

Parenttookhishand，andshakingitgently，replied："Yes，Iamverywell."

Buttheyoungwomanhadfeltareproachinherhusband’slastwords.

"Findingfault！Whydoyouspeakoffindingfault？Onemightthinkthatyoumeanttoimplysomething."

"Notatall，"hereplied，bywayofexcuse."IsimplymeantthatIwasnotatallanxiousalthoughyouwerelate，andthatIdidnotfindfaultwithyouforit."

She，however，tookthehighhand，andtriedtofindapretextforaquarrel."AlthoughIwaslate？Onemightreallythinkthatitwasoneo’clockinthemorning，andthatIspentmynightsawayfromhome."

"Certainlynot，mydear.IsaidlatebecauseIcouldfindnootherword.

Yousaidyoushouldbebackathalf—pastsix，andyoureturnedathalf—

pasteight.Thatwassurelybeinglate.Iunderstanditperfectlywell.

Iamnotatallsurprised，even.But——but——Icanhardlyuseanyotherword."

"ButyoupronouncethemasifIhadbeenoutallnight."

"Oh，no—oh，no！"

Shesawthathewouldyieldoneverypoint，andshewasgoingintoherownroom，whenatlastshenoticedthatGeorgewasscreaming，andthensheasked，withsomefeeling："Whatisthematterwiththechild？"

"ItoldyouthatJuliehadbeenratherunkindtohim."

"Whathasthewretchbeendoingtohim？"

"Ohnothingmuch.Shegavehimapush，andhefelldown."

Shewantedtoseeherchild，andranintothediningroom，butstoppedshortatthesightofthetablecoveredwithspiltwine，withbrokendecantersandglassesandoverturnedsaltcellars."Whodidallthatmischief？"sheasked.

"ItwasJulie，who————"Butsheinterruptedhimfuriously：

"Thatistoomuch，really！JuliespeaksofmeasifIwereashamelesswoman，beatsmychild，breaksmyplatesanddishes，turnsmyhouseupsidedown，anditappearsthatyouthinkitallquitenatural."

"Certainlynot，asIhavegotridofher."

"Really！Youhavegotridofher！Butyououghttohavegivenherincharge.Insuchcases，oneoughttocallintheCommissaryofPolice！"

"But——mydear——Ireallycouldnot.Therewasnoreason.Itwouldhavebeenverydifficult————"

Sheshruggedhershouldersdisdainfully."There！youwillneverbeanythingbutapoor，wretchedfellow，amanwithoutawill，withoutanyfirmnessorenergy.Ah！shemusthavesaidsomenicethingstoyou，yourJulie，tomakeyouturnherofflikethat.Ishouldliketohavebeenhereforaminute，onlyforaminute."Thensheopenedthedrawing—roomdoorandrantoGeorge，tookhimintoherarmsandkissedhim，andsaid：

"Georgie，whatisit，mydarling，myprettyone，mytreasure？"

Then，suddenlyturningtoanotheridea，shesaid："Butthechildhashadnodinner？Youhavehadnothingtoeat，mypet？"

"No，mamma."

Thensheagainturnedfuriouslyuponherhusband."Why，youmustbemad，utterlymad！Itishalf—pasteight，andGeorgehashadnodinner！"

Heexcusedhimselfasbesthecould，forhehadnearlylosthiswitsthroughtheoverwhelmingsceneandtheexplanation，andfeltcrushedbythisruinofhislife."But，mydear，wewerewaitingforyou，asIdidnotwishtodinewithoutyou.Asyoucomehomelateeveryday，I

expectedyoueverymoment."

Shethrewherbonnet，whichshehadkeptontillthen，intoaneasy—

chair，andinanangryvoiceshesaid："Itisreallyintolerabletohavetodowithpeoplewhocanunderstandnothing，whocandivinenothinganddonothingbythemselves.So，Isuppose，ifIweretocomeinattwelveo’clockatnight，thechildwouldhavehadnothingtoeat？Justasifyoucouldnothaveunderstoodthat，asitwasafterhalf—pastseven，I

waspreventedfromcominghome，thatIhadmetwithsomehindrance！"

Parenttrembled，forhefeltthathisangerwasgettingtheupperhand，butLimousininterposed，andturningtowardtheyoungwoman，said：

"Mydearfriend，you，arealtogetherunjust.Parentcouldnotguessthatyouwouldcomeheresolate，asyouneverdoso，andthen，howcouldyouexpecthimtogetoverthedifficultyallbyhimself，afterhavingsentawayJulie？"

ButHenriettewasveryangry，andreplied：

"Well，atanyrate，hemustgetoverthedifficultyhimself，forIwillnothelphim，"shereplied."Lethimsettleit！"Andshewentintoherownroom，quiteforgettingthatherchildhadnothadanythingtoeat.

Limousinimmediatelysettoworktohelphisfriend.Hepickedupthebrokenglasseswhichstrewedthetableandtookthemout，replacedtheplatesandknivesandforks，andputthechildintohishighchair，whileParentwenttolookforthechambermaidtowaitattable.Thegirlcamein，ingreatastonishment，asshehadheardnothinginGeorge’sroom，whereshehadbeenworking.Shesoon，however，broughtinthesoup，aburntlegofmutton，andmashedpotatoes.

Parentsatbythesideofthechild，verymuchupsetanddistressedatallthathadhappened.Hegavetheboyhisdinner，andendeavoredtoeatsomethinghimself，buthecouldonlyswallowwithaneffort，ashisthroatfeltparalyzed.BydegreeshewasseizedwithaninsanedesiretolookatLimousin，whowassittingoppositetohim，makingbreadpellets，toseewhetherGeorgewaslikehim，buthedidnotventuretoraisehiseyesforsometime.Atlast，however，hemadeuphismindtodoso，andgaveaquick，sharplookatthefacewhichheknewsowell，althoughhealmostfanciedthathehadneverexamineditcarefully.Itlookedsodifferenttowhathehadimagined.FromtimetotimehelookedatLimousin，tryingtorecognizealikenessinthesmallestlinesofhisface，intheslightestfeatures，andthenhelookedathisson，underthepretextoffeedinghim.

Twowordsweresoundinginhisears："Hisfather！hisfather！hisfather！"Theybuzzedinhistemplesateverybeatofhisheart.Yes，thatman，thattranquilmanwhowassittingontheothersideofthetable，was，perhaps，thefatherofhisson，ofGeorge，ofhislittleGeorge.Parentleftoffeating;hecouldnotswallowanymore.A

terriblepain，oneofthoseattacksofpainwhichmakemenscream，rollontheground，andbitethefurniture，wastearingathisentrails，andhefeltinclinedtotakeaknifeandplungeitintohisstomach.

Hestartedwhenheheardthedooropen.Hiswifecamein."Iamhungry，"shesaid;"arenotyou，Limousin？"

Hehesitatedalittle，andthensaid："Yes，Iam，uponmyword."

Shehadthelegofmuttonbroughtinagain.Parentaskedhimself"Havetheyhaddinner？Oraretheylatebecausetheyhavehadalovers’

meeting？"

Theybothatewithaverygoodappetite.Henriettewasverycalm，butlaughedandjoked.Herhusbandwatchedherfurtively.Shehadonapinkteagowntrimmedwithwhitelace，andherfairhead，herwhiteneckandherplumphandsstoodoutfromthatcoquettishandperfumeddressasthoughitwereaseashelledgedwithfoam.

Whatfuntheymustbemakingofhim，ifhehadbeentheirdupesincethefirstday！Wasitpossibletomakeafoolofaman，ofaworthyman，becausehisfatherhadlefthimalittlemoney？Whycouldonenotseeintopeople’ssouls？Howwasitthatnothingrevealedtouprightheartsthedeceitsofinfamoushearts？Howwasitthatvoiceshadthesamesoundforadoringasforlying？Whywasafalse，deceptivelookthesameasasincereone？Andhewatchedthem，waitingtocatchagesture，aword，anintonation.Thensuddenlyhethought："Iwillsurprisethemthisevening，"andhesaid：

"Mydear，asIhavedismissedJulie，Iwillseeaboutgettinganothergirlthisveryday.Iwillgoatoncetoprocureonebyto—morrowmorning，soImaynotbeinuntillate."

"Verywell，"shereplied;"go.Ishallnotstirfromhere.Limousinwillkeepmecompany.Wewillwaitforyou."Then，turningtothemaid，shesaid："YouhadbetterputGeorgetobed，andthenyoucanclearawayandgouptoyourroom."

Parenthadgotup;hewasunsteadyonhislegs，dazedandbewildered，andsaying，"Ishallseeyouagainlateron，"hewentout，holdingontothewall，forthefloorseemedtorolllikeaship.Georgehadbeencarriedoutbyhisnurse，whileHenrietteandLimousinwentintothedrawing—

room.

Assoonasthedoorwasshut，hesaid："Youmustbemad，surely，totormentyourhusbandasyoudo？"

Sheimmediatelyturnedonhim："Ah！DoyouknowthatIthinkthehabityouhavegotintolately，oflookinguponParentasamartyr，isveryunpleasant？"

Limousinthrewhimselfintoaneasy—chairandcrossedhislegs."Iamnotsettinghimupasamartyrintheleast，butIthinkthat，situatedasweare，itisridiculoustodefythismanasyoudo，frommorningtillnight."

Shetookacigarettefromthemantelpiece，lightedit，andreplied："ButIdonotdefyhim;quitethecontrary.Onlyheirritatesmebyhisstupidity，andItreathimashedeserves."

Limousincontinuedimpatiently："Whatyouaredoingisveryfoolish！I

amonlyaskingyoutotreatyourhusbandgently，becausewebothofusrequirehimtotrustus.Ithinkthatyououghttoseethat."

Theywereclosetogether：he，tall，dark，withlongwhiskersandtherathervulgarmannersofagood—lookingmanwhoisverywellsatisfiedwithhimself;she，small，fair，andpink，alittleParisian，borninthebackroomofashop，halfcocotteandhalfbourgeoise，broughtuptoenticecustomerstothestorebyherglances，andmarried，inconsequence，toasimple，unsophisticatedman，whosawheroutsidethedooreverymorningwhenhewentoutandeveryeveningwhenhecamehome.

"Butdoyounotunderstand;yougreatbooby，"shesaid，"thatIhatehimjustbecausehemarriedme，becauseheboughtme，infact;becauseeverythingthathesaysanddoes，everythingthathethinks，actsonmynerves？Heexasperatesmeeverymomentbyhisstupidity，whichyoucallhiskindness;byhisdullness，whichyoucallhisconfidence，andthen，aboveall，becauseheismyhusband，insteadofyou.Ifeelhimbetweenus，althoughhedoesnotinterferewithusmuch.Andthen———andthen！

No，itis，afterall，tooidioticofhimnottoguessanything！Iwishhewould，atanyrate，bealittlejealous.TherearemomentswhenI

feelinclinedtosaytohim：’Doyounotsee，youstupidcreature，thatPaulismylover？’

"Itisquiteincomprehensiblethatyoucannotunderstandhowhatefulheistome，howheirritatesme.Youalwaysseemtolikehim，andyoushakehandswithhimcordially.Menareveryextraordinaryattimes."

"Onemustknowhowtodissimulate，mydear."

"Itisnoquestionofdissimulation，butoffeeling.Onemightthinkthat，whenyoumendeceiveoneanother，youlikeeachotherbetteronthataccount，whilewewomenhateamanfromthemomentthatwehavebetrayedhim."

"Idonotseewhyoneshouldhateanexcellentfellowbecauseoneisfriendlywithhiswife."

"Youdonotseeit？Youdonotseeit？Youallofyouarewantinginrefinementoffeeling.However，thatisoneofthosethingswhichonefeelsandcannotexpress.Andthen，moreover，oneoughtnot.No，youwouldnotunderstand;itisquiteuseless！Youmenhavenodelicacyoffeeling."

Andsmiling，withthegentlecontemptofanimpurewoman，sheputbothherhandsonhisshouldersandheldupherlipstohim.Hestoopeddownandclaspedhercloselyinhisarms，andtheirlipsmet.Andastheystoodinfrontofthemantelmirror，anothercoupleexactlylikethemembracedbehindtheclock.

Theyhadheardnothing，neitherthenoiseofthekeynorthecreakingofthedoor，butsuddenlyHenriette，withaloudcry，pushedLimousinawaywithbothherarms，andtheysawParentlookingatthem，lividwithrage，withouthisshoesonandhishatoverhisforehead.Helookedateach，oneaftertheother，withaquickglanceofhiseyesandwithoutmovinghishead.Heappearedbesidehimself.Then，withoutsayingaword，hethrewhimselfonLimousin，seizedhimasifheweregoingtostranglehim，andflunghimintotheoppositecorneroftheroomsoviolentlythattheotherlosthisbalance，and，beatingtheairwithhishand，struckhisheadviolentlyagainstthewall.

WhenHenriettesawthatherhusbandwasgoingtomurderherlover，shethrewherselfonParent，seizedhimbytheneck，anddigginghertendelicate，rosyfingersintohisneck，shesqueezedhimsotightly，withallthevigorofadesperatewoman，thatthebloodspurtedoutunderhernails，andshebithisshoulder，asifshewishedtotearitwithherteeth.Parent，half—strangledandchoking，loosenedhisholdonLimousin，inordertoshakeoffhiswife，whowashangingtohisneck.

Puttinghisarmsroundherwaist，heflungheralsototheotherendofthedrawing—room.

Then，ashispassionwasshort—lived，likethatofmostgood—temperedmen，andhisstrengthwassoonexhausted，heremainedstandingbetweenthetwo，panting，wornout，notknowingwhattodonext.Hisbrutalfuryhadexpendeditselfinthateffort，likethefrothofabottleofchampagne，andhisunwontedenergyendedinagaspingforbreath.Assoonashecouldspeak，however，hesaid：

"Goaway——bothofyou——immediately！Goaway！"

Limousinremainedmotionlessinhiscorner，againstthewall，toostartledtounderstandanythingasyet，toofrightenedtomoveafinger;

whileHenriette，withherhandsrestingonasmall，roundtable，herheadbentforward，herhairhangingdown，thebodiceofherdressunfastened，waitedlikeawildanimalwhichisabouttospring.Parentcontinuedinastrongervoice："Goawayimmediately.Getoutofthehouse！"

Hiswife，however，seeingthathehadgotoverhisfirstexasperationgrewbolder，drewherselfup，tooktwostepstowardhim，and，grownalmostinsolent，shesaid："Haveyoulostyourhead？Whatisthematterwithyou？Whatisthemeaningofthisunjustifiableviolence？"

Butheturnedtowardher，andraisinghisfisttostrikeher，hestammeredout："Oh——oh——thisistoomuch，toomuch！Iheardeverything！

Everything——doyouunderstand？Everything！Youwretch——youwretch！Youaretwowretches！Getoutofthehouse，bothofyou！Immediately，orI

shallkillyou！Leavethehouse！"

Shesawthatitwasallover，andthathekneweverything;thatshecouldnotproveherinnocence，andthatshemustcomply.Butallherimpudencehadreturnedtoher，andherhatredfortheman，whichwasaggravatednow，drovehertoaudacity，madeherfeeltheneedofbravado，andofdefyinghim，andshesaidinaclearvoice："Come，Limousin;asheisgoingtoturnmeoutofdoors，Iwillgotoyourlodgingswithyou."

ButLimousindidnotmove，andParent，inafreshaccessofrage，criedout："Go，willyou？Go，youwretches！Orelse——orelse————"Heseizedachairandwhirleditoverhishead.

Henriettewalkedquicklyacrosstheroom，tookherloverbythearm，draggedhimfromthewall，towhichheappearedfixed，andledhimtowardthedoor，saying："Docome，myfriend——youseethatthemanismad.Docome！"

Asshewentoutsheturnedroundtoherhusband，tryingtothinkofsomethingthatshecoulddo，somethingthatshecouldinventtowoundhimtotheheartassheleftthehouse，andanideastruckher，oneofthosevenomous，deadlyideasinwhichallawoman’sperfidyshowsitself，andshesaidresolutely："Iamgoingtotakemychildwithme."

Parentwasstupefied，andstammered："Your——your——child？Youdaretotalkofyourchild？Youventure——youventuretoaskforyourchild——

after—after——Oh，oh，thatistoomuch！Go，youvilecreature！Go！"

Shewentuptohimagain，almostsmiling，almostavengedalready，anddefyinghim，standingclosetohim，andfacetoface，shesaid："Iwantmychild，andyouhavenorighttokeephim，becauseheisnotyours——doyouunderstand？Heisnotyours！HeisLimousin’s！"

AndParentcriedoutinbewilderment："Youlie——youlie——worthlesswoman！"

Butshecontinued："Youfool！Everybodyknowsitexceptyou.Itellyou，thisishisfather.Youneedonlylookathimtoseeit."

Parentstaggeredbackward，andthenhesuddenlyturnedround，tookacandle，andrushedintothenextroom;returningalmostimmediately，carryinglittleGeorgewrappedupinhisbedclothes.Thechild，whohadbeensuddenlyawakened，wascryingfromfright.Parentthrewhimintohiswife’sarms，andthen，withoutspeaking，hepushedherroughlyouttowardthestairs，whereLimousinwaswaiting，frommotivesofprudence.

Thenheshutthedooragain，double—lockedandboltedit，buthadscarcelygotbackintothedrawing—roomwhenhefelltotheflooratfulllength.

Parentlivedalone，quitealone.Duringthefiveweeksthatfollowedtheirseparation，thefeelingofsurpriseathisnewlifepreventedhimfromthinkingmuch.Hehadresumedhisbachelorlife，hishabitsoflounging，about，andtookhismealsatarestaurant，ashehaddoneformerly.Ashewishedtoavoidanyscandal，hemadehiswifeanallowance，whichwasarrangedbytheirlawyers.Bydegrees，however，thethoughtofthechildbegantohaunthim.Often，whenhewasathomealoneatnight，hesuddenlythoughtheheardGeorgecallingout"Papa，"

andhisheartwouldbegintobeat，andhewouldgetupquicklyandopenthedoor，toseewhether，bychance，thechildmighthavereturned，asdogsorpigeonsdo.Whyshouldachildhavelessinstinctthanananimal？Onfindingthathewasmistaken，hewouldsitdowninhisarmchairagainandthinkoftheboy.Hewouldthinkofhimforhoursandwholedays.Itwasnotonlyamoral，butstillmoreaphysicalobsession，anervouslongingtokisshim，toholdandfondlehim，totakehimonhiskneesanddancehim.Hefeltthechild’slittlearmsaroundhisneck，hislittlemouthpressingakissonhisbeard，hissofthairticklinghischeeks，andtheremembranceofallthosechildishwaysmadehimsufferasamanmightforsomebelovedwomanwhohaslefthim.

TwentyorahundredtimesadayheaskedhimselfthequestionwhetherhewasorwasnotGeorge’sfather，andalmostbeforehewasinbedeverynightherecommencedthesameseriesofdespairingquestionings.

Heespeciallydreadedthedarknessoftheevening，themelancholyfeelingofthetwilight.Thenafloodofsorrowinvadedhisheart，atorrentofdespairwhichseemedtooverwhelmhimanddrivehimmad.Hewasasafraidofhisownthoughtsasmenareofcriminals，andhefledbeforethemasonedoesfromwildbeasts.Aboveallthings，hefearedhisempty，dark，horribledwellingandthedesertedstreets，inwhich，hereandthere，agaslampflickered，wheretheisolatedfootpassengerwhomonehearsinthedistanceseemstobeanightprowler，andmakesonewalkfasterorslower，accordingtowhetherheiscomingtowardyouorfollowingyou.

Andinspiteofhimself，andbyinstinct，Parentwentinthedirectionofthebroad，well—lighted，populousstreets.Thelightandthecrowdattractedhim，occupiedhismindanddistractedhisthoughts，andwhenhewastiredofwalkingaimlesslyaboutamongthemovingcrowd，whenhesawthefootpassengersbecomingmorescarceandthepavementslesscrowded，thefearofsolitudeandsilencedrovehimintosomelargecafefullofdrinkersandoflight.Hewentthereasfliesgotoacandle，andhewouldsitdownatoneofthelittleroundtablesandaskfora"bock，"

whichhewoulddrinkslowly，feelinguneasyeverytimeacustomergotuptogo.Hewouldhavelikedtotakehimbythearm，holdhimback，andbeghimtostayalittlelonger，somuchdidhedreadthetimewhenthewaitershouldcomeuptohimandsaysharply："Come，monsieur，itisclosingtime！"

Hethusgotintothehabitofgoingtothebeerhouses，wherethecontinualelbowingofthedrinkersbringsyouincontactwithafamiliarandsilentpublic，wheretheheavycloudsoftobaccosmokelulldisquietude，whiletheheavybeerdullsthemindandcalmstheheart.

Healmostlivedthere.Hewasscarcelyupbeforehewenttheretofindpeopletodistracthisglancesandhisthoughts，andsoon，ashefelttoolazytomove，hetookhismealsthere.

Aftereverymeal，duringmorethananhour，hesippedthreeorfoursmallglassesofbrandy，whichstupefiedhimbydegrees，andthenhisheaddroopedonhischest，heshuthiseyes，andwenttosleep.Then，awaking，heraisedhimselfontheredvelvetseat，straightenedhiswaistcoat，pulleddownhiscuffs，andtookupthenewspapersagain，thoughhehadalreadyseentheminthemorning，andreadthemallthroughagain，frombeginningtoend.Betweenfourandfiveo’clockhewentforawalkontheboulevards，togetalittlefreshair，asheusedtosay，andthencamebacktotheseatwhichhadbeenreservedforhim，andaskedforhisabsinthe.Hewouldtalktotheregularcustomerswhoseacquaintancehehadmade.Theydiscussedthenewsofthedayandpoliticalevents，andthatcarriedhimontilldinnertime;andhespenttheeveningashehadtheafternoon，untilitwastimetoclose.Thatwasateriblemomentforhimwhenhewasobligedtogooutintothedark，intohisemptyroomfullofdreadfulrecollections，ofhorriblethoughts，andofmentalagony.Henolongersawanyofhisoldfriends，noneofhisrelatives，nobodywhomightremindhimofhispastlife.Butashisapartmentswereahelltohim，hetookaroominalargehotel，agoodroomonthegroundfloor，soastoseethepassers—by.Hewasnolongeraloneinthatgreatbuilding.Hefeltpeopleswarmingroundhim，heheardvoicesintheadjoiningrooms，andwhenhisformersufferingstormentedhimtoomuchatthesightofhisbed，whichwasturneddown，andofhissolitaryfireplace，hewentoutintothewidepassagesandwalkedupanddownthemlikeasentinel，beforeallthecloseddoors，andlookedsadlyattheshoesstandingincouplesoutsidethem，women’slittlebootsbythesideofmen’sthickones，andhethoughtthat，nodoubt，allthesepeoplewerehappy，andweresleepingintheirwarmbeds.

Fiveyearspassedthus;fivemiserableyears.Butoneday，whenhewastakinghisusualwalkbetweentheMadeleineandtheRueDrouot，hesuddenlysawaladywhosebearingstruckhim.Atallgentlemanandachildwerewithher，andallthreewerewalkinginfrontofhim.Heaskedhimselfwherehehadseenthembefore，whensuddenlyherecognizedamovementofherhand;itwashiswife，hiswifewithLimousinandhischild，hislittleGeorge.

Hisheartbeatasifitwouldsuffocatehim，buthedidnotstop，forhewishedtoseethem，andhefollowedthem.Theylookedlikeafamilyofthebettermiddleclass.HenriettewasleaningonPaul’sarm，andspeakingtohiminalowvoice，andlookingathimsidewaysoccasionally.

Parentgotasideviewofherandrecognizedherprettyfeatures，themovementsofherlips，hersmile，andhercoaxingglances.Butthechildchieflytookuphisattention.Howtallandstronghewas！Parentcouldnotseehisface，butonlyhislong，faircurls.Thattallboywithbarelegs，whowaswalkingbyhismother’ssidelikealittleman，wasGeorge.

Hesawthemsuddenly，allthree，astheystoppedinfrontofashop.

Limousinhadgrownverygray，hadagedandwasthinner;hiswife，onthecontrary，wasasyounglookingasever，andhadgrownstouter.Georgehewouldnothaverecognized，hewassodifferentfromwhathehadbeenformerly.

TheywentonagainandParentfollowedthem.Hewalkedonquickly，passedthem，andthenturnedround，soastomeetthemfacetoface.Ashepassedthechildhefeltamadlongingtotakehimintohisarmsandrunoffwithhim，andheknockedagainsthimasifbyaccident.Theboyturnedroundandlookedattheclumsymanangrily，andParenthurriedaway，shocked，hurt，andpursuedbythatlook.Hewentofflikeathief，seizedwithahorriblefearlestheshouldhavebeenseenandrecognizedbyhiswifeandherlover.Hewenttohiscafewithoutstopping，andfellbreathlessintohischair.Thateveninghedrankthreeabsinthes.

Forfourmonthshefeltthepainofthatmeetinginhisheart.Everynighthesawthethreeagain，happyandtranquil，father，mother，andchildwalkingontheboulevardbeforegoingintodinner，andthatnew.

visioneffacedtheoldone.Itwasanothermatter，anotherhallucinationnow，andalsoafreshpain.LittleGeorge，hislittleGeorge，thechildhehadsomuchlovedandsooftenkissed，disappearedinthefardistance，andhesawanewone，likeabrotherofthefirst，alittleboywithbarelegs，whodidnotknowhim！Hesufferedterriblyatthatthought.Thechild’slovewasdead;therewasnobondbetweenthem;thechildwouldnothaveheldouthisarmswhenhesawhim.Hehadevenlookedathimangrily.

Then，bydegreeshegrewcalmer，hismentaltorturediminished，theimagethathadappearedtohiseyesandwhichhauntedhisnightsbecamemoreindistinctandlessfrequent.Hebeganoncemoretolivenearlylikeeverybodyelse，likeallthoseidlepeoplewhodrinkbeeroffmarble—

toppedtablesandwearouttheirclothesonthethreadbarevelvetofthecouches.

Hegrewoldamidthesmokefrompipes，losthishairunderthegaslights，lookeduponhisweeklybath，onhisfortnightlyvisittothebarber’stohavehishaircut，andonthepurchaseofanewcoatorhatasanevent.Whenhegottohiscafeinanewhathewouldlookathimselfintheglassforalongtimebeforesittingdown，andtakeitoffandputitonagainseveraltimes，andatlastaskhisfriend，theladyatthebar，whowaswatchinghimwithinterest，whethershethoughtitsuitedhim.

Twoorthreetimesayearhewenttothetheatre，andinthesummerhesometimesspenthiseveningsatoneoftheopen—airconcertsintheChampsElysees.Andsotheyearsfollowedeachotherslow，monotonous，andshort，becausetheywerequiteuneventful.

Heveryrarelynowthoughtofthedreadfuldramawhichhadwreckedhislife;fortwentyyearshadpassedsincethatterribleevening.Butthelifehehadledsincethenhadwornhimout.Thelandlordofhiscafewouldoftensaytohim："Yououghttopullyourselftogetheralittle，MonsieurParent;youshouldgetsomefreshairandgointothecountry.

Iassureyouthatyouhavechangedverymuchwithinthelastfewmonths."

Andwhenhiscustomerhadgoneoutbeusedtosaytothebarmaid："ThatpoorMonsieurParentisbookedforanotherworld;itisbadnevertogetoutofParis.Advisehimtogooutoftownforadayoccasionally;hehasconfidenceinyou.Summerwillsoonbehere;thatwillputhimstraight."

Andshe，fullofpityandkindnessforsucharegularcustomer，saidtoParenteveryday："Come，monsieur，makeupyourmindtogetalittlefreshair.Itissocharminginthecountrywhentheweatherisfine.

Oh，ifIcould，Iwouldspendmylifethere！"

Bydegreeshewasseizedwithavaguedesiretogojustonceandseewhetheritwasreallyaspleasantthereasshesaid，outsidethewallsofthegreatcity.Onemorninghesaidtoher：

"DoyouknowwhereonecangetagoodluncheonintheneighborhoodofParis？"

"GototheTerraceatSaint—Germain;itisdelightfulthere！"

Hehadbeenthereformerly，justwhenhebecameengaged.Hemadeuphismindtogothereagain，andhechoseaSunday，fornospecialreason，butmerelybecausepeoplegenerallydogooutonSundays，evenwhentheyhavenothingtodoalltheweek;andsooneSundaymorninghewenttoSaint—

Germain.Hefeltlow—spiritedandvexedathavingyieldedtothatnewlonging，andathavingbrokenthroughhisusualhabits.Hewasthirsty;

hewouldhavelikedtogetoutateverystationandsitdowninthecafewhichhesawoutsideanddrinka"bock"ortwo，andthentakethefirsttrainbacktoParis.Thejourneyseemedverylongtohim.Hecouldremainsittingforwholedays，aslongashehadthesamemotionlessobjectsbeforehiseyes，buthefounditverytryingandfatiguingtoremainsittingwhilehewasbeingwhirledalong，andtoseethewholecountryflyby，whilehehimselfwasmotionless.

However，hefoundtheSeineinterestingeverytimehecrossedit.UnderthebridgeatChatouhesawsomesmallboatsgoingatgreatspeedunderthevigorousstrokesofthebare—armedoarsmen，andhethought："Therearesomefellowswhoarecertainlyenjoyingthemselves！"ThetrainenteredthetunneljustbeforeyougettothestationatSaint—Germain，andpresentlystoppedattheplatform.Parentgotout，andwalkedslowly，forhealreadyfelttired，towardtheTerrace，withhishandsbehindhisback，andwhenhegottotheironbalustrade，stoppedtolookatthedistanthorizon.Theimmenseplainspreadoutbeforehimvastasthesea，greenandstuddedwithlargevillages，almostaspopulousastowns.Thesunbathedthewholelandscapeinitsfull，warmlight.TheSeinewoundlikeanendlessserpentthroughtheplain，flowedroundthevillagesandalongtheslopes.Parentinhaledthewarmbreeze，whichseemedtomakehisheartyoungagain，toenlivenhisspirits，andtovivifyhisblood，andsaidtohimself：

"Why，itisdelightfulhere."

Thenhewentonafewsteps，andstoppedagaintolookabouthim.Theuttermiseryofhisexistenceseemedtobebroughtintofullreliefbytheintenselightwhichinundatedthelandscape.Hesawhistwentyyearsofcafelife——dull，monotonous，heartbreaking.Hemighthavetraveledasothersdid，havegoneamongforeigners，tounknowncountriesbeyondthesea，haveinterestedhimselfsomewhatineverythingwhichothermenarepassionatelydevotedto，inartsandscience;hemighthaveenjoyedlifeinathousandforms，thatmysteriouslifewhichiseithercharmingorpainful，constantlychanging，alwaysinexplicableandstrange.Now，however，itwastoolate.Hewouldgoondrinking"bock"after"bock"

untilhedied，withoutanyfamily，withoutfriends，withouthope，withoutanycuriosityaboutanything，andhewasseizedwithafeelingofmiseryandawishtorunaway，tohidehimselfinParis，inhiscafeandhislethargy！Allthethoughts，allthedreams，allthedesireswhicharedormantinthesloughofstagnatingheartshadreawakened，broughttolifebythoseraysofsunlightontheplain.

Parentfeltthatifheweretoremainthereanylongerheshouldlosehisreason，andhemadehastetogettothePavilionHenriIVforlunch，totryandforgethistroublesunder——theinfluenceofwineandalcohol，andatanyratetohavesomeonetospeakto.

Hetookasmalltableinoneofthearbors，fromwhichonecanseeallthesurroundingcountry，orderedhislunch，andaskedtobeservedatonce.Thensomemorepeoplearrivedandsatdownattablesnearhim.Hefeltmorecomfortable;hewasnolongeralone.Threepersonswereeatingluncheonnearhim.Helookedatthemtwoorthreetimeswithoutseeingthemclearly，asonelooksattotalstrangers.Suddenlyawoman’svoicesentashiverthroughhimwhichseemedtopenetratetohisverymarrow.

"George，"itsaid，"willyoucarvethechicken？"

Andanothervoicereplied："Yes，mamma."

Parentlookedup，andheunderstood;heguessedimmediatelywhothosepeoplewere！Heshouldcertainlynothaveknownthemagain.Hiswifehadgrownquitewhiteandverystout，anelderly，serious，respectablelady，andsheheldherheadforwardassheateforfearofspottingherdress，althoughshehadatablenapkintuckedunderherchin.Georgehadbecomeaman.Hehadaslightbeard，thatunevenandalmostcolorlessbeardwhichadornsthecheeksofyouths.Heworeahighhat，awhitewaistcoat，andamonocle，becauseitlookedswell，nodoubt.Parentlookedathiminastonishment.WasthatGeorge，hisson？No，hedidnotknowthatyoungman;therecouldbenothingincommonbetweenthem.

Limousinhadhisbacktohim，andwaseating;withhisshouldersratherbent.

Allthreeofthemseemedhappyandsatisfied;theycameandtookluncheoninthecountryatwell—knownrestaurants.Theyhadhadacalmandpleasantexistence，afamilyexistenceinawarmandcomfortablehouse，filledwithallthosetrifleswhichmakelifeagreeable，withaffection，withallthosetenderwordswhichpeopleexchangecontinuallywhentheyloveeachother.Theyhadlivedthus，thankstohim，Parent，onhismoney，afterhavingdeceivedhim，robbedhim，ruinedhim！Theyhadcondemnedhim，theinnocent，simple—minded，jovialman，toallthemiseriesofsolitude，tothatabominablelifewhichhehadled，betweenthepavementandabar—room，toeverymentaltortureandeveryphysicalmisery！Theyhadmadehimauseless，aimlessbeing，awaifintheworld，apooroldmanwithoutanypleasures，anyprospects，expectingnothingfromanybodyoranything.Forhim，theworldwasempty，becausehelovednothingintheworld.Hemightgoamongothernations，orgoaboutthestreets，gointoallthehousesinParis，openeveryroom，buthewouldnotfindinsideanydoorthebelovedface，thefaceofwifeorchildwhichsmileswhenitseesyou.Thisideaworkeduponhimmorethananyother，theideaofadoorwhichoneopens，toseeandtoembracesomebodybehindit.

Andthatwasthefaultofthosethreewretches！Thefaultofthatworthlesswoman，ofthatinfamousfriend，andofthattall，light—hairedladwhoputoninsolentairs.Nowhefeltasangrywiththechildashedidwiththeothertwo.WashenotLimousin’sson？WouldLimousinhavekepthimandlovedhimotherwise？WouldnotLimousinveryquicklyhavegotridofthemotherandofthechildifhehadnotfeltsurethatitwashis，positivelyhis？Doesanybodybringupotherpeople’schildren？

Andnowtheywerethere，quiteclosetohim，thosethreewhohadmadehimsuffersomuch.

Parentlookedatthem，irritatedandexcitedattherecollectionofallhissufferingsandofhisdespair，andwasespeciallyexasperatedattheirplacidandsatisfiedlooks.Hefeltinclinedtokillthem，tothrowhissiphonofSeltzerwateratthem，tosplitopenLimousin’sheadasheeverymomentbentitoverhisplate，raisingitagainimmediately.

Hewouldhavehisrevengenow，onthespot，ashehadthemunderhishand.Buthow？Hetriedtothinkofsomemeans，hepicturedsuchdreadfulthingsasonereadsofinthenewspapersoccasionally，butcouldnothitonanythingpractical.Andhewentondrinkingtoexcitehimself，togivehimselfcouragenottoallowsuchanopportunitytoescapehim，ashemightneverhaveanother.

Suddenlyanideastruckhim，aterribleidea;andheleftoffdrinkingtomatureit.Hesmiledashemurmured："Ihavethem，Ihavethem！Wewillsee;wewillsee！"

Theyfinishedtheirluncheonslowly，conversingwithperfectunconcern.

Parentcouldnothearwhattheyweresaying，buthesawtheirquietgestures.Hiswife’sfaceespeciallyexasperatedhim.Shehadassumedahaughtyair，theairofacomfortable，devoutwoman，ofanunapproachable，devoutwoman，sheathedinprinciples，iron—cladinvirtue.Theypaidtheirbillandgotupfromtable.ParentthennoticedLimousin.Hemighthavebeentakenforaretireddiplomat，forhelookedamanofgreatimportance，withhissoftwhitewhiskers，thetipsofwhichtouchedhiscoatcollar.

Theywalkedaway.Parentroseandfollowedthem.Firsttheywentupanddowntheterrace，andcalmlyadmiredthelandscape，andthentheywent.

intotheforest.Parentfollowedthematadistance，hidinghimselfsoasnottoexcitetheirsuspiciontoosoon.

Parentcameuptothembydegrees，breathinghardwithemotionandfatigue，forhewasunusedtowalkingnow.Hesooncameuptothem，butwasseizedwithfear，aninexplicablefear，andhepassedthem，soastoturnroundandmeetthemfacetoface.Hewalkedon，hisheartbeating，feelingthattheywerejustbehindhimnow，andhesaidtohimself：

"Come，nowisthetime.Courage！courage！Nowisthemoment！"

Heturnedround.Theywereallthreesittingonthegrass，atthefootofahugetree，andwerestillchatting.Hemadeuphismind，andwalkedbackrapidly;stoppinginfrontoftheminthemiddleoftileroad，hesaidabruptly，inavoicebrokenbyemotion：

"ItisI！HereIam！Isupposeyoudidnotexpectme？"

Theyallthreestaredatthisman，whoseemedtobeinsane.

Hecontinued：

"Onewouldsupposethatyoudidnotknowmeagain.Justlookatme！I

amParent，HenriParent.Youthoughtitwasallover，andthatyouwouldneverseemeagain.Ah！buthereIamoncemore，yousee，andnowwewillhaveanexplanation."

Henriette，terrified，hidherfaceinherhands，murmuring："Oh！Goodheavens！"

Seeingthisstranger，whoseemedtobethreateninghismother，Georgesprangup，readytoseizehimbythecollar.Limousin，thunderstruck，lookedinhorroratthisapparition，who，aftergaspingforbreath，continued：

"Sonowwewillhaveanexplanation;thepropermomenthascome！Ah！

youdeceivedme，youcondemnedmetothelifeofaconvict，andyouthoughtthatIshouldnevercatchyou！"

Theyoungmantookhimbytheshouldersandpushedhimback.

"Areyoumad？"heasked."Whatdoyouwant？Goonyourwayimmediately，orIshallgiveyouathrashing！"

"WhatdoIwant？"repliedParent."Iwanttotellyouwhothesepeopleare."

George，however，wasinarage，andshookhim;andwasevengoingtostrikehim.

"Letmego，"saidParent."Iamyourfather.There，seewhethertheyrecognizemenow，thewretches！"

Theyoungman，thunderstruck，unclenchedhisfistsandturnedtowardhismother.Parent，assoonashewasreleased，approachedher.

"Well，"hesaid，"tellhimyourselfwhoIam！TellhimthatmynameisHenriParent，thatIamhisfatherbecausehisnameisGeorgeParent，becauseyouaremywife，becauseyouareallthreelivingonmymoney，ontheallowanceoftenthousandfrancswhichIhavemadeyousinceIdroveyououtofmyhouse.WillyoutellhimalsowhyIdroveyouout？

BecauseIsurprisedyouwiththisbeggar，thiswretch，yourlover！TellhimwhatIwas，anhonorableman，whomyoumarriedformoney，andwhomyoudeceivedfromtheveryfirstday.Tellhimwhoyouare，andwhoI

am————"

Hestammeredandgaspedforbreathinhisrage.Thewomanexclaimedinaheartrendingvoice：

"Paul，Paul，stophim;makehimbequiet！Donotlethimsaythisbeforemyson！"

Limousinhadalsorisentohisfeet.Hesaidinaverylowvoice：

"Holdyourtongue！Holdyourtongue！Doyouunderstandwhatyouaredoing？"

"IquiteknowwhatIamdoing，"resumedParent，"andthatisnotall.

ThereisonethingthatIwillknow，somethingthathastormentedmefortwentyyears."Then，turningtoGeorge，whowasleaningagainstatreeinconsternation，hesaid：

"Listentome.Whensheleftmyhouseshethoughtitwasnotenoughtohavedeceivedme，butshealsowantedtodrivemetodespair.Youweremyonlyconsolation，andshetookyouwithher，swearingthatIwasnotyourfather，but，thathewasyourfather.Wasshelying？Idonotknow.Ihavebeenaskingmyselfthequestionforthelasttwentyyears."

Hewentcloseuptoher，tragicandterrible，and，pullingawayherhands，withwhichshehadcoveredherface，hecontinued：

"Well，now！Icalluponyoutotellmewhichofustwoisthefatherofthisyoungman;heorI，yourhusbandoryourlover.Come！Come！tellus."

Limousinrushedathim.Parentpushedhimback，and，sneeringinhisfury，hesaid："Ah！youarebravenow！YouarebraverthanyouwerethatdaywhenyourandownstairsbecauseyouthoughtIwasgoingtomurderyou.Verywell！Ifshewillnotreply，tellmeyourself.Yououghttoknowaswellasshe.Tellme，areyouthisyoungfellow’sfather？Come！Come！Tellme！"

Heturnedtohiswifeagain."Ifyouwillnottellme，atanyratetellyourson.Heisaman，now，andhehastherighttoknowwhohisfatheris.Idonotknow，andIneverdidknow，never，never！Icannottellyou，myboy."

Heseemedtobelosinghissenses;hisvoicegrewshrillandheworkedhisarmsaboutasifhehadanepileptic’fit.

"Come！Givemeananswer.ShedoesnotknowIwillmakeabetthatshedoesnotknowNoshedoesnotknow，byJove！Ha！ha！ha！NobodyknowsnobodyHowcanoneknowsuchthings？

Youwillnotknoweither，myboy，youwillnotknowanymorethanIdoneverLookhereAskheryouwillfindthatshedoesnotknowIdonotknoweithernordoeshe，nordoyou，nobodyknows.YoucanchooseYoucanchoose

yes，youcanchoosehimormeChoose.

GoodeveningItisallover.Ifshemakesuphermindtotellyou，youwillcomeandletmeknow，willyounot？IamlivingattheHoteldesContinentsIshouldbegladtoknowGoodeveningIhopeyouwillenjoyyourselvesverymuch"

Andhewentawaygesticulating，talkingtohimselfunderthetalltrees，inthequiet，thecoolair，whichwasfullofthefragranceofgrowingplants.Hedidnotturnroundtolookatthem，butwentstraighton，walkingunderthestimulusofhisrage，underastormofpassion，withthatonefixedideainhismind.Allatoncehefoundhimselfoutsidethestation.Atrainwasabouttostartandhegotin.Duringthejourneyhisangercalmeddown，heregainedhissensesandreturnedtoParis，astonishedathisownboldness，fullofachesandpainsasifhehadbrokensomebones.Nevertheless，hewenttohavea"bock"athisbrewery.

Whenshesawhimcomein，MademoiselleZoeaskedinsurprise："What！

backalready？areyoutired？"

"Yes——yes，IamtiredverytiredYouknow，whenoneisnotusedtogoingoutI’vehadenoughofit.Ishallnotgointothecountryagain.Itwouldhavebeenbettertohavestayedhere.Forthefuture，Ishallnotstirout."

Shecouldnotpersuadehimtotellherabouthislittleexcursion，muchasshewishedto.

Forthefirsttimeinhislifehegotthoroughlydrunkthatnight，andhadtobecarriedhome.

QUEENHORTENSE

InArgenteuilshewascalledQueenHortense.Nooneknewwhy.Perhapsitwasbecauseshehadacommandingtoneofvoice;perhapsbecauseshewastall，bony，imperious;perhapsbecauseshegovernedakingdomofservants，chickens，dogs，cats，canaries，parrots，allsodeartoanoldmaid’sheart.Butshedidnotspoilthesefamiliarfriends;shehadforthemnoneofthoseendearingnames，noneofthefoolishtendernesswhichwomenseemtolavishonthesoftfurofapurringcat.Shegovernedthesebeastswithauthority;shereigned.

Shewasindeedanoldmaid——oneofthoseoldmaidswithaharshvoiceandangularmotions，whoseverysoulseemstobehard.Sheneverwouldstandcontradiction，argument，hesitation，indifference，lazinessnorfatigue.

Shehadneverbeenheardtocomplain，toregretanything，toenvyanyone.

Shewouldsay："Everyonehashisshare，"withtheconvictionofafatalist.Shedidnotgotochurch，shehadnouseforpriests，shehardlybelievedinGod，callingallreligiousthings"weeper’swares."

Forthirtyyearsshehadlivedinherlittlehouse，withitstinygardenrunningalongthestreet;shehadneverchangedherhabits，onlychangingherservantspitilessly，assoonastheyreachedtwenty—oneyearsofage.

Whenherdogs，catsandbirdswoulddieofoldage，orfromanaccident，shewouldreplacethemwithouttearsandwithoutregret;withalittlespadeshewouldburythedeadanimalinastripofground，throwingafewshovelfulsofearthoveritandstampingitdownwithherfeetinanindifferentmanner.

Shehadafewfriendsintown，familiesofclerkswhowenttoPariseveryday.Onceinawhileshewouldbeinvitedout，intheevening，totea.

Shewouldinevitablyfallasleep，andshewouldhavetobeawakened，whenitwastimeforhertogohome.Sheneverallowedanyonetoaccompanyher，fearingneitherlightnordarkness.Shedidnotappeartolikechildren.

Shekeptherselfbusydoingcountlessmasculinetasks——carpentering，gardening，sawingorchoppingwood，evenlayingbrickswhenitwasnecessary.

Shehadrelativeswhocametoseehertwiceayear，theCimmesandtheColombels，hertwosistershavingmarried，oneofthemafloristandtheotheraretiredmerchant.TheCimmeshadnochildren;theColombelshadthree：Henri，PaulineandJoseph.Henriwastwenty，PaulineseventeenandJosephonlythree.

Therewasnolovelostbetweentheoldmaidandherrelatives.

Inthespringoftheyear1882QueenHortensesuddenlyfellsick.

Theneighborscalledinaphysician，whomsheimmediatelydroveout.

Apriestthenhavingpresentedhimself，shejumpedoutofbed，inordertothrowhimoutofthehouse.

Theyoungservant，indespair，wasbrewinghersometea.

Afterlyinginbedforthreedaysthesituationappearedsoseriousthatthebarrel—maker，wholivednextdoor，totheright，actingonadvicefromthedoctor，whohadforciblyreturnedtothehouse，tookituponhimselftocalltogetherthetwofamilies.

Theyarrivedbythesametrain，towardsteninthemorning，theColombelsbringinglittleJosephwiththem.

Whentheygottothegardengate，theysawtheservantseatedinthechairagainstthewall，crying.

Thedogwassleepingonthedoormatinthebroilingsun;twocats，whichlookedasthoughtheymightbedead，werestretchedoutinfrontofthetwowindows，theireyesclosed，theirpawsandtailsstretchedoutatfulllength.

Abigcluckinghenwasparadingthroughthegardenwithawholeregimentofyellow，downychicks，andabigcagehangingfromthewallandcoveredwithpimpernel，containedapopulationofbirdswhichwerechirpingawayinthewarmthofthisbeautifulspringmorning.

Inanothercage，shapedlikeachalet，twolovebirdssatmotionlesssidebysideontheirperch.

M.Cimme，afat，puffingperson，whoalwaysenteredfirsteverywhere，pushingasideeveryoneelse，whethermanorwoman，whenitwasnecessary，asked：

"Well，Celeste，aren’tthingsgoingwell？"

Thelittleservantmoanedthroughhertears：

"Shedoesn’tevenrecognizemeanymore.Thedoctorsaysit’stheend."

Everybodylookedaround.

Mme.CimmeandMme.Colombelimmediatelyembracedeachother，withoutsayingaword.Theylockedverymuchalike，havingalwaysworntheirhairinMadonnabands，andloudredFrenchcashmereshawls.

Cimmeturnedtohisbrother—in—law，apale，sal，low—complexioned，thinman，wastedbystomachcomplaints，wholimpedbadly，andsaidinaserioustoneofvoice：

"Gad！Itwashightime."

Butnoonedaredtoenterthedyingwoman’sroomonthegroundfloor.

EvenCimmemadewayfortheothers.Colombelwasthefirsttomakeuphismind，and，swayingfromsidetosidelikethemastofaship，theironferuleofhiscaneclatteringonthepavedhall，heentered.

Thetwowomenwerethenexttoventure，andM.Cimmesclosedtheprocession.

LittleJosephhadremainedoutside，pleasedatthesightofthedog.

Arayofsunlightseemedtocutthebedintwo，shiningjustonthehands，whichweremovingnervously，continuallyopeningandclosing.

Thefingersweretwitchingasthoughmovedbysomethought，asthoughtryingtopointoutameaningoridea，asthoughobeyingthedictatesofawill.Therestofthebodylaymotionlessunderthesheets.Theangularframeshowednotasinglemovement.Theeyesremainedclosed.

Thefamilyspreadoutinasemi—circleand，withoutaword，theybegantowatchthecontractedchestandtheshort，gaspingbreathing.Thelittleservanthadfollowedthemandwasstillcrying.

AtlastCimmeasked：

"Exactlywhatdidthedoctorsay？"

Thegirlstammered：

"Hesaidtoleaveheralone，thatnothingmorecouldbedoneforher."

Butsuddenlytheoldwoman’slipsbegantomove.Sheseemedtobeutteringsilentwords，wordshiddeninthebrainofthisdyingbeing，andherhandsquickenedtheirpeculiarmovements.

Thenshebegantospeakinathin，highvoice，whichnoonehadeverheard，avoicewhichseemedtocomefromthedistance，perhapsfromthedepthsofthisheartwhichhadalwaysbeenclosed.

Cimme，findingthisscenepainful，walkedawayontiptoe.Colombel，whosecrippledlegwasgrowingtired，satdown.

Thetwowomenremainedstanding.

QueenHortensewasnowbabblingaway，andnoonecouldunderstandaword.

Shewaspronouncingnames，manynames，tenderlycallingimaginarypeople.