第22章

Hemadehersitdownbyforce，andoncemorefallingonhiskneesatherfeet，henowbroughtforwardanumberofargumentsandcounselstomakeherunderstandthefollyandterribleriskofherproject.Heomittednothingwhichhedeemednecessarytoconvinceher，findingeveninhisveryaffectionforherincentivestopersuasion.

Assheremainedsilentandcoldasice，hebeggedofher，imploredofhertolistentohim，totrusthim，tofollowhisadvice.

Whenhehadfinishedspeaking，sheonlyreplied：

"Areyoudisposedtoletmegoawaynow？Takeawayyourhands，sothatI

mayrisetomyfeet."

"Lookhere，Irene."

"Willyouletmego？"

"Irene——isyourresolutionirrevocable？"

"Willyouletmego."

"Tellmeonlywhetherthisresolution，thismadresolutionofyours，whichyouwillbitterlyregret，isirrevocable？"

"Yes——letmego！"

"Thenstay.Youknowwellthatyouareathomehere.Weshallgoawayto—morrowmorning."

Sherosetoherfeetinspiteofhim，andsaidinahardtone：

"No.Itistoolate.Idonotwantsacrifice;Idonotwantdevotion."

"Stay！IhavedonewhatIoughttodo;IhavesaidwhatIoughttosay.

Ihavenofurtherresponsibilityonyourbehalf.Myconscienceisatpeace.Tellmewhatyouwantmetodo，andIwillobey."’

Sheresumedherseat，lookedathimforalongtime，andthenasked，inaverycalmvoice：

"Well，then，explain."

"Explainwhat？Whatdoyouwishmetoexplain？"

"Everything——everythingthatyouthoughtaboutbeforechangingyourmind.

ThenIwillseewhatIoughttodo."

"ButIthoughtaboutnothingatall.Ihadtowarnyouthatyouweregoingtocommitanactoffolly.Youpersist;thenIasktoshareinthisactoffolly，andIeveninsistonit."

"Itisnotnaturaltochangeone’smindsoquickly."

"Listen，mydearlove.Itisnotaquestionhereofsacrificeordevotion.OnthedaywhenIrealizedthatIlovedyou，Isaidtomyselfwhateveryloveroughttosaytohimselfinthesamecase：’Themanwholovesawoman，whomakesanefforttowinher，whogetsher，andwhotakesher，entersintoasacredcontractwithhimselfandwithher.Thatis，ofcourse，indealingwithawomanlikeyou，notawomanwithafickleheartandeasilyimpressed.’

"Marriagewhichhasagreatsocialvalue，agreatlegalvalue，possessesinmyeyesonlyaveryslightmoralvalue，takingintoaccounttheconditionsunderwhichitgenerallytakesplace.

"Therefore，whenawoman，unitedbythislawfulbond，buthavingnoattachmenttoherhusband，whomshecannotlove，awomanwhoseheartisfree，meetsamanwhomshecaresfor，andgivesherselftohim，whenamanwhohasnoothertie，takesawomaninthisway，Isaythattheypledgethemselvestowardeachotherbythismutualandfreeagreementmuchmorethanbythe’Yes’utteredinthepresenceofthemayor.

"Isaythat，iftheyarebothhonorablepersons，theirunionmustbemoreintimate，morereal，morewholesome，thanifallthesacramentshadconsecratedit.

"Thiswomanriskseverything.Anditisexactlybecausesheknowsit，becauseshegiveseverything，herheart，herbody，hersoul，herhonor，herlife，becauseshehasforeseenallmiseries，alldangersallcatastrophes，becauseshedarestodoaboldact，anintrepidact，becausesheisprepared，determinedtobraveeverything——herhusband，whomightkillher，andsociety，whichmaycastherout.Thisiswhysheisworthyofrespectinthemidstofherconjugalinfidelity;thisiswhyherlover，intakingher，shouldalsoforeseeeverything，andpreferhertoeveryoneelsewhatevermayhappen.Ihavenothingmoretosay.I

spokeinthebeginninglikeasensiblemanwhosedutyitwastowarnyou;

andnowIamonlyaman——amanwholovesyou——Command，andIobey."

Radiant，sheclosedhismouthwithakiss，andsaidinalowtone：

"Itisnottrue，darling！Thereisnothingthematter！Myhusbanddoesnotsuspectanything.ButIwantedtosee，Iwantedtoknow，whatyouwoulddoIwishedforaNewYear’sgift——thegiftofyourheart——anothergiftbesidesthenecklaceyousentme.Youhavegivenittome.Thanks！

thanks！Godbethankedforthehappinessyouhavegivenme！"

FRIENDPATIENCE

WhatbecameofLeremy？"

"HeiscaptainintheSixthDragoons."

"AndPinson？"

"He’sasubprefect."

"AndRacollet？"

"Dead."

Weweresearchingforothernameswhichwouldremindusoftheyouthfulfacesofouryoungerdays.Onceinawhilewehadmetsomeoftheseoldcomrades，bearded，bald，married，fathersofseveralchildren，andtherealizationofthesechangeshadgivenusanunpleasantshudder，remindingushowshortlifeis，howeverythingpassesaway，howeverythingchanges.Myfriendaskedme：

"AndPatience，fatPatience？"

Ialmost，howled：

"Oh！asforhim，justlistentothis.FourorfiveyearsagoIwasinLimoges，onatourofinspection，andIwaswaitingfordinnertime.

IwasseatedbeforethebigcafeinthePlaceduTheatre，justboredtodeath.Thetradespeoplewerecomingbytwos，threesorfours，totaketheirabsintheorvermouth，talkingallthetimeoftheirownorotherpeople’sbusiness，laughingloudly，orloweringtheirvoicesinordertoimpartsomeimportantordelicatepieceofnews.

"Iwassayingtomyself：’WhatshallIdoafterdinner？’AndIthoughtofthelongeveninginthisprovincialtown，oftheslow，drearywalkthroughunknownstreets，oftheimpressionofdeadlygloomwhichtheseprovincialpeopleproduceonthelonelytraveller，andofthewholeoppressiveatmosphereoftheplace.

"IwasthinkingofallthesethingsasIwatchedthelittlejetsofgasflareup，feelingmylonelinessincreasewiththefallingshadows.

"Abig，fatmansatdownatthenexttableandcalledinastentorianvoice：

"’Waiter，mybitters！’

"The’my’cameoutlikethereportofacannon.Iimmediatelyunderstoodthateverythingwashisinlife，andnotanother’s;thathehadhisnature，byJove，hisappetite，histrousers，hiseverything，his，moreabsolutelyandmorecompletelythananyoneelse’s.Thenhelookedroundhimwithasatisfiedair.Hisbitterswerebrought，andheordered：

"’Mynewspaper！’

"Iwondered：’Whichnewspapercanhisbe？’Thetitlewouldcertainlyrevealtomehisopinions，histheories，hisprinciples，hishobbies，hisweaknesses.

"ThewaiterbroughttheTemps.Iwassurprised.WhytheTemps，aserious，sombre，doctrinaire，impartialsheet？Ithought：

"’Hemustbeaseriousmanwithsettledandregularhabits;inshort，agoodbourgeois.’

"Heputonhisgold—rimmedspectacles，leanedbackbeforebeginningtoread，andoncemoreglancedabouthim.Henoticedme，andimmediatelybegantostareatmeinanannoyingmanner.Iwasevengoingtoaskthereasonforthisattention，whenheexclaimedfromhisseat：

"’Well，byallthat’sholy，ifthisisn’tGontranLardois.’

"Ianswered：

"’Yes，monsieur，youarenotmistaken.’

"Thenhequicklyroseandcametowardmewithhandsoutstretched：

"’Well，oldman，howareyou？’

"AsIdidnotrecognizehimatallIwasgreatlyembarrassed.

Istammered：

"’Why—verywell—and—you？’

"Hebegantolaugh"’Ibetyoudon’trecognizeme.’

"’No，notexactly.Itseems——however——’

"Heslappedmeontheback：

"’Comeon，nojoking！IamPatience，RobertPatience，yourfriend，yourchum.’

"Irecognizedhim.Yes，RobertPatience，myoldcollegechum.Itwashe.Itookhisoutstretchedhand：

"’Andhowareyou？’

"’Fine！’

"Hissmilewaslikeapaeanofvictory.

"Heasked：

"’Whatareyoudoinghere？’

"IexplainedthatIwasgovernmentinspectoroftaxes.

"Hecontinued，pointingtomyredribbon：

"’Thenyouhave—beenasuccess？’

"Ianswered：

"’Fairlyso.Andyou？’

"’Iamdoingwell！’

"’Whatareyoudoing？’

"’I’minbusiness.’

"’Makingmoney？’

"’Heaps.I’mveryrich.Butcomearoundtolunch，to—morrownoon，17

RueduCoq—qui—Chante;youwillseemyplace.’

"Heseemedtohesitateasecond，thencontinued：

"’Areyoustillthegoodsportthatyouusedtobe？’

"’I——Ihopeso.’

"’Notmarried？’

"’No.’

"’Good.Anddoyoustillloveagoodtimeandpotatoes？’

"Iwasbeginningtofindhimhopelesslyvulgar.Nevertheless，Ianswered"’Yes.’

"’Andprettygirls？’

"’Mostassuredly.’

"Hebegantolaughgood—humoredly.

"’Good，good！Doyourememberourfirstescapade，inBordeaux，afterthatdinneratRoutie’s？Whataspree！’

"Idid，indeed，rememberthatspree;andtherecollectionofitcheeredmeup.Thiscalledtomindotherpranks.Hewouldsay：

"’Say，doyourememberthetimewhenwelockedtheproctorupinoldmanLatoque’scellar？’

"Andhelaughedandbangedthetablewithhisfist，andthenhecontinued：

"’Yes—yes—yes—anddoyourememberthefaceofthegeographyteacher，M.Marin，thedaywesetoffafirecrackerintheglobe，justashewasharanguingabouttheprincipalvolcanoesoftheearth？’

"ThensuddenlyIaskedhim：

"’Andyou，areyoumarried？’

"Heexclaimed：

"’Tenyears，myboy，andIhavefourchildren，remarkableyoungsters;butyou’llseethemandtheirmother.’

"Weweretalkingratherloud;thepeoplearounduslookedatusinsurprise.

"Suddenlymyfriendlookedathiswatch，achronometerthesizeofapumpkin，andhecried：

"’Thunder！I’msorry，butI’llhavetoleaveyou;Iamneverfreeatnight.’

"Herose，tookbothmyhands，shookthemasthoughheweretryingtowrenchmyarmsfromtheirsockets，andexclaimed：

"’Solong，then;tillto—morrownoon！’

"’Solong！’

"Ispentthemorningworkingintheofficeofthecollector—generaloftheDepartment.Thechiefwishedmetostaytoluncheon，butItoldhimthatIhadanengagementwithafriend.Ashehadtogoout，heaccompaniedme.

"Iaskedhim：

"’CanyoutellmehowIcanfindtheRueduCoq—qui—Chante？’

"Heanswered：

"’Yes，it’sonlyfiveminutes’walkfromhere.AsIhavenothingspecialtodo，Iwilltakeyouthere.’

"Westartedoutandsoonfoundourselvesthere.Itwasawide，fine—

lookingstreet，ontheoutskirtsofthetown.IlookedatthehousesandInoticedNo.17.Itwasalargehousewithagardenbehindit.Thefacade，decoratedwithfrescoes，intheItalianstyle，appearedtomeasbeinginbadtaste.Thereweregoddessesholdingvases，othersswathedinclouds.Twostonecupidssupportedthenumberofthehouse.

"Isaidtothetreasurer：

"’HereiswhereIamgoing.’

"Iheldmyhandouttohim.Hemadeaquick，strangegesture，saidnothingandshookmyhand.

"Irang.Amaidappeared.Iasked：

"’MonsieurPatience，ifyouplease？’

"Sheanswered：

"’Righthere，sir.Isittomonsieurthatyouwishtospeak？’

"’Yes.’

"Thehallwasdecoratedwithpaintingsfromthebrushofsomelocalartist.PaulsandVirginiaswerekissingeachotherunderpalmtreesbathedinapinklight.AhideousOrientallanternwasrangingfromtheceiling.Severaldoorswereconcealedbybrighthangings.

"Butwhatstruckmeespeciallywastheodor.Itwasasickeningandperfumedodor，remindingoneofricepowderandthemouldysmellofacellar.Anindefinableodorinaheavyatmosphereasoppressiveasthatofpublicbaths.Ifollowedthemaidupamarblestairway，coveredwithagreen，Orientalcarpet，andwasusheredintoasumptubusparlor.

"Leftalone，Ilookedaboutme.

"Theroomwasrichlyfurnished，butinthepretentioustasteofaparvenu.Ratherfineengravingsofthelastcenturyrepresentedwomenwithpowderedhairdressedhighsurprisedbygentlemenininterestingpositions.Anotherlady，lyinginalargebed，wasteasingwithherfootalittledog，lostinthesheets.Onedrawingshowedfourfeet，bodiesconcealedbehindacurtain.Thelargeroom，surroundedbysoftcouches，wasentirelyimpregnatedwiththatenervatingandinsipidodorwhichI

hadalreadynoticed.Thereseemedtobesomethingsuspiciousaboutthewalls，thehangings，theexaggeratedluxury，everything.

"Iapproachedthewindowtolookintothegarden.Itwasverybig，shady，beautiful.Awidepathwoundroundagrassplotinthemidstofwhichwasafountain，enteredashrubberyandcameoutfartheraway.

And，suddenly，yonder，inthedistance，betweentwoclumpsofbushes，threewomenappeared.Theywerewalkingslowly，arminarm，cladinlong，whitetea—gownscoveredwithlace.Twowereblondesandtheotherwasdark—haired.Almostimmediatelytheydisappearedagainbehindthetrees.Istoodthereentranced，delightedwiththisshortandcharmingapparition，whichbroughttomymindawholeworldofpoetry.Theyhadscarcelyallowedthemselvestobeseen，injusttheproperlight，inthatframeoffoliage，inthemidstofthatmysterious，delightfulpark.ItseemedtomethatIhadsuddenlyseenbeforemethegreatladiesofthelastcentury，whoweredepictedintheengravingsonthewall.AndI

begantothinkofthehappy，joyous，wittyandamoroustimeswhenmannersweresogracefulandlipssoapproachable.

"Adeepvoicemalemejump.Patiencehadcomein，beaming，andheldouthishandstome.

"Helookedintomyeyeswiththeslylookwhichonetakeswhendivulgingsecretsoflove，and，withaNapoleonicgesture，heshowedmehissumptuousparlor，hispark，thethreewomen，whohadreappearedinthebackofit，then，inatriumphantvoice，wherethenoteofpridewasprominent，hesaid：

"’AndtothinkthatIbeganwithnothing——mywifeandmysister—in—law！’"

ABANDONED

"Ireallythinkyoumustbemad，mydear，togoforacountrywalkinsuchweatherasthis.Youhavehadsomeverystrangenotionsforthelasttwomonths.Youdragmetotheseasideinspiteofmyself，whenyouhaveneveroncehadsuchawhimduringalltheforty—fouryearsthatwehavebeenmarried.YouchoseFecamp，whichisaverydulltown，withoutconsultingmeinthematter，andnowyouareseizedwithsucharageforwalking，youwhohardlyeverstiroutonfoot，thatyouwanttotakeacountrywalkonthehottestdayoftheyear.Askd’Aprevaltogowithyou，asheisreadytogratifyallyourwhims.Asforme，Iamgoingbacktohaveanap."

MadamedeCadourturnedtoheroldfriendandsaid：

"Willyoucomewithme，Monsieurd’Apreval？"

Hebowedwithasmile，andwithallthegallantryofformeryears：

"Iwillgowhereveryougo，"hereplied.

"Verywell，then，goandgetasunstroke，"MonsieurdeCadoursaid;andhewentbacktotheHoteldesBainstoliedownforanhourortwo.

Assoonastheywerealone，theoldladyandheroldcompanionsetoff，andshesaidtohiminalowvoice，squeezinghishand：

"Atlast！atlast！"

"Youaremad，"hesaidinawhisper."Iassureyouthatyouaremad.

Thinkoftheriskyouarerunning.Ifthatman——"

Shestarted.

"Oh！Henri，donotsaythatman，whenyouarespeakingofhim."

"Verywell，"hesaidabruptly，"ifoursonguessesanything，ifhehasanysuspicions，hewillhaveyou，hewillhaveusbothinhispower.

Youhavegotonwithoutseeinghimforthelastfortyyears.Whatisthematterwithyouto—day？"

Theyhadbeengoingupthelongstreetthatleadsfromtheseatothetown，andnowtheyturnedtotheright，togotoEtretat.Thewhiteroadstretchedinfrontofhim，thenunderablazeofbrilliantsunshine，sotheywentonslowlyintheburningheat.Shehadtakenheroldfriend’sarm，andwaslookingstraightinfrontofher，withafixedandhauntedgaze，andatlastshesaid：

"Andsoyouhavenotseenhimagain，either？"

"No，never."

"Isitpossible？"

"Mydearfriend，donotletusbeginthatdiscussionagain.Ihaveawifeandchildrenandyouhaveahusband，sowebothofushavemuchtofearfromotherpeople’sopinion."

Shedidnotreply;shewasthinkingofherlongpastyouthandofmanysadthingsthathadoccurred.Howwellsherecalledallthedetailsoftheirearlyfriendship，hissmiles，thewayheusedtolinger，inordertowatchheruntilshewasindoors.Whathappydaystheywere，theonlyreallydeliciousdaysshehadeverenjoyed，andhowquicklytheywereover！

Andthen——herdiscovery——ofthepenaltyshepaid！Whatanguish！

OfthatjourneytotheSouth，thatlongjourney，hersufferings，herconstantterror，thatsecludedlifeinthesmall，solitaryhouseontheshoresoftheMediterranean，atthebottomofagarden，whichshedidnotventuretoleave.Howwellsherememberedthoselongdayswhichshespentlyingunderanorangetree，lookingupattheround，redfruit，amidthegreenleaves.Howsheusedtolongtogoout，asfarasthesea，whosefreshbreezescametoheroverthewall，andwhosesmallwavesshecouldhearlappingonthebeach.Shedreamedofitsimmenseblueexpansesparklingunderthesun，withthewhitesailsofthesmallvessels，andamountainonthehorizon.Butshedidnotdaretogooutsidethegate.Supposeanybodyhadrecognizedher！

Andthosedaysofwaiting，thoselastdaysofmiseryandexpectation！

Theimpendingsuffering，andthenthatterriblenight！Whatmiseryshehadendured，andwhatanightitwas！Howshehadgroanedandscreamed！

Shecouldstillseethepalefaceofherlover，whokissedherhandeverymoment，andtheclean—shavenfaceofthedoctorandthenurse’swhitecap.

Andwhatshefeltwhensheheardthechild’sfeeblecries，thatwail，thatfirsteffortofahuman’svoice！

Andthenextday！thenextday！theonlydayofherlifeonwhichshehadseenandkissedherson;for，fromthattime，shehadneverevencaughtaglimpseofhim.

Andwhatalong，voidexistencehershadbeensincethen，withthethoughtofthatchildalways，alwaysfloatingbeforeher.Shehadneverseenherson，thatlittlecreaturethathadbeenpartofherself，evenoncesincethen;theyhadtakenhimfromher，carriedhimawav，andhadhiddenhim.AllsheknewwasthathehadbeenbroughtupbysomepeasantsinNormandy，thathehadbecomeapeasanthimself，hadmarriedwell，andthathisfather，whosenamehedidnotknow，hadsettledahandsomesumofmoneyonhim.

Howoftenduringthelastfortyyearshadshewishedtogoandseehimandtoembracehim！Shecouldnotimaginetoherselfthathehadgrown！

Shealwaysthoughtofthatsmallhumanatomwhichshehadheldinherarmsandpressedtoherbosomforaday.

HowoftenshehadsaidtoM.d’Apreval："Icannotbearitanylonger;

Imustgoandseehim."

Buthehadalwaysstoppedherandkeptherfromgoing.Shewouldbeunabletorestrainandtomasterherself;theirsonwouldguessitandtakeadvantageofher，blackmailher;shewouldbelost.

"Whatishelike？"shesaid.

"Idonotknow.Ihavenotseenhimagain，either."

"Isitpossible？Tohaveasonandnottoknowhim;tobeafraidofhimandtorejecthimasifhewereadisgrace！Itishorrible."

Theywentalongthedustyroad，overcomebythescorchingsun，andcontinuallyascendingthatinterminablehill.

"Onemighttakeitforapunishment，"shecontinued;"Ihaveneverhadanotherchild，andIcouldnolongerresistthelongingtoseehim，whichhaspossessedmeforfortyyears.Youmencannotunderstandthat.YoumustrememberthatIshallnotlivemuchlonger，andsupposeIshouldneverseehim，neverhaveseenhim！Isitpossible？HowcouldIwaitsolong？Ihavethoughtabouthimeverydaysince，andwhataterribleexistenceminehasbeen！Ihaveneverawakened，never，doyouunderstand，withoutmyfirstthoughtsbeingofhim，ofmychild.Howishe？Oh，howguiltyIfeeltowardhim！Oughtonetofearwhattheworldmaysayinacaselikethis？Ioughttohavelefteverythingtogoafterhim，tobringhimupandtoshowmyloveforhim.Ishouldcertainlyhavebeenmuchhappier，butIdidnotdare，Iwasacoward.HowIhavesuffered！Oh，howthosepoor，abandonedchildrenmusthatetheirmothers！"

Shestoppedsuddenly，forshewaschokedbyhersobs.Thewholevalleywasdesertedandsilentinthedazzlinglightandtheoverwhelmingheat，andonlythegrasshoppersutteredtheirshrill，continuouschirpamongthesparseyellowgrassonbothsidesoftheroad.

"Sitdownalittle，"hesaid.

Sheallowedherselftobeledtothesideoftheditchandsankdownwithherfaceinherhands.Herwhitehair，whichhungincurlsonbothsidesofherface，hadbecometangled.Shewept，overcomebyprofoundgrief，whilehestoodfacingher，uneasyandnotknowingwhattosay，andhemerelymurmured："Come，takecourage."

Shegotup.

"Iwill，"shesaid，andwipinghereyes，shebegantowalkagainwiththeuncertainstepofanelderlywoman.

Alittlefartherontheroadpassedbeneathaclumpoftrees，whichhidafewhouses，andtheycoulddistinguishthevibratingandregularblowsofablacksmith’shammerontheanvil;andpresentlytheysawawagonstandingontherightsideoftheroadinfrontofalowcottage，andtwomenshoeingahorseunderashed.

Monsieurd’Aprevalwentuptothem.

"WhereisPierreBenedict’sfarm？"heasked.

"Taketheroadtotheleft，closetotheinn，andthengostraighton;

itisthethirdhousepastPoret’s.Thereisasmallsprucefirclosetothegate;youcannotmakeamistake."

Theyturnedtotheleft.Shewaswalkingveryslowlynow，herlegsthreatenedtogiveway，andherheartwasbeatingsoviolentlythatshefeltasifsheshouldsuffocate，whileateverystepshemurmured，asifinprayer：

"Oh！Heaven！Heaven！"

Monsieurd’Apreval，whowasalsonervousandratherpale，saidtohersomewhatgruffly：

"Ifyoucannotmanagetocontrolyourfeelings，youwillbetrayyourselfatonce.Dotryandrestrainyourself."

"HowcanI？"shereplied."Mychild！WhenIthinkthatIamgoingtoseemychild."

Theyweregoingalongoneofthosenarrowcountrylanesbetweenfarmyards，thatareconcealedbeneathadoublerowofbeechtreesateithersideoftheditches，andsuddenlytheyfoundthemselvesinfrontofagate，besidewhichtherewasayoungsprucefir.

"Thisisit，"hesaid.

Shestoppedsuddenlyandlookedabouther.Thecourtyard，whichwasplantedwithappletrees，waslargeandextendedasfarasthesmallthatcheddwellinghouse.Ontheoppositesidewerethestable，thebarn，thecowhouseandthepoultryhouse，whilethegig，thewagonandthemanurecartwereunderaslatedouthouse.Fourcalvesweregrazingundertheshadeofthetreesandblackhenswerewanderingallabouttheenclosure.

Allwasperfectlystill;thehousedoorwasopen，butnobodywastobeseen，andsotheywentin，whenimmediatelyalargeblackdogcameoutofabarrelthatwasstandingunderapeartree，andbegantobarkfuriously.

Therewerefourbee—hivesonboardsagainstthewallofthehouse.

Monsieurd’Aprevalstoodoutsideandcalledout：

"Isanybodyathome？"

Thenachildappeared，alittlegirlofaboutten，dressedinachemiseandalinen，petticoat，withdirty，barelegsandatimidandcunninglook.Sheremainedstandinginthedoorway，asiftopreventanyonegoingin.

"Whatdoyouwant？"sheasked.

"Isyourfatherin？"

"No."

"Whereishe？"

"Idon’tknow."

"Andyourmother？"

"Goneafterthecows."

"Willshebebacksoon？"

"Idon’tknow."

Thensuddenlythelady，asifshefearedthathercompanionmightforcehertoreturn，saidquickly：

"Ishallnotgowithouthavingseenhim."

"Wewillwaitforhim，mydearfriend."

Astheyturnedaway，theysawapeasantwomancomingtowardthehouse，carryingtwotinpails，whichappearedtobeheavyandwhichglistenedbrightlyinthesunlight.

Shelimpedwithherrightleg，andinherbrownknittedjacket，thatwasfadedbythesunandwashedoutbytherain，shelookedlikeapoor，wretched，dirtyservant.

"Hereismamma，"thechildsaid.

Whenshegotclosetothehouse，shelookedatthestrangersangrilyandsuspiciously，andthenshewentin，asifshehadnotseenthem.Shelookedoldandhadahard，yellow，wrinkledface，oneofthosewoodenfacesthatcountrypeoplesooftenhave.

Monsieurd’Aprevalcalledherback.

"Ibegyourpardon，madame，butwecameintoknowwhetheryoucouldsellustwoglassesofmilk."

Shewasgrumblingwhenshereappearedinthedoor，afterputtingdownherpails.

"Idon’tsellmilk，"shereplied.

"Weareverythirsty，"hesaid，"andmadameisverytired.Canwenotgetsomethingtodrink？"

Thepeasantwomangavethemanuneasyandcunningglanceandthenshemadeuphermind.

"Asyouarehere，Iwillgiveyousome，"shesaid，goingintothehouse，andalmostimmediatelythechildcameoutandbroughttwochairs，whichsheplacedunderanappletree，andthenthemother，inturn，broughtouttwobowlsoffoamingmilk，whichshegavetothevisitors.Shedidnotreturntothehouse，however，butremainedstandingnearthem，asiftowatchthemandtofindoutforwhatpurposetheyhadcomethere.

"YouhavecomefromFecamp？"shesaid.

"Yes，"Monsieurd’Aprevalreplied，"wearestayingatFecampforthesummer."

Andthen，afterashortsilence，hecontinued：

"Haveyouanyfowlsyoucouldselluseveryweek？"

Thewomanhesitatedforamomentandthenreplied：

"Yes，IthinkIhave.Isupposeyouwantyoungones？"

"Yes，ofcourse."

"’Whatdoyoupayfortheminthemarket？"

D’Apreval，whohadnottheleastidea，turnedtohiscompanion：

"WhatareyoupayingforpoultryinFecamp，mydearlady？"

"Fourfrancsandfourfrancsfiftycentimes，"shesaid，hereyesfulloftears，whilethefarmer’swife，whowaslookingatheraskance，askedinmuchsurprise"Istheladyill，assheiscrying？"

Hedidnotknowwhattosay，andrepliedwithsomehesitation：

"No——no——butshelostherwatchaswecamealong，averyhandsomewatch，andthattroublesher.Ifanybodyshouldfindit，pleaseletusknow."

MotherBenedictdidnotreply，asshethoughtitaveryequivocalsortofanswer，butsuddenlysheexclaimed：

"Oh，hereismyhusband！"

Shewastheonlyonewhohadseenhim，asshewasfacingthegate.

D’AprevalstartedandMadamedeCadournearlyfellassheturnedroundsuddenlyonherchair.

Amanbentnearlydouble，andoutofbreath，stoodthere，ten—yardsfromthem，draggingacowattheendofarope.Withouttakinganynoticeofthevisitors，hesaid：

"Confoundit！Whatabrute！"

Andhewentpastthemanddisappearedinthecowhouse.

Hertearshaddriedquicklyasshesattherestartled，withoutawordandwiththeonethoughtinhermind，thatthiswasherson，andD’Apreval，whomthesamethoughthadstruckveryunpleasantly，saidinanagitatedvoice：

"IsthisMonsieu