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MYUNCLEJULES
Awhite—hairedoldmanbeggedusforalms.Mycompanion，JosephDavranche，gavehimfivefrancs.Noticingmysurprisedlook，hesaid：
"ThatpoorunfortunateremindsmeofastorywhichIshalltellyou，thememoryofwhichcontinuallypursuesme.Hereitis：
"Myfamily，whichcameoriginallyfromHavre，wasnotrich.Wejustmanagedtomakebothendsmeet.Myfatherworkedhard，camehomelatefromtheoffice，andearnedverylittle.Ihadtwosisters.
"Mymothersufferedagooddealfromourreducedcircumstances，andsheoftenhadharshwordsforherhusband，veiledandslyreproaches.Thepoormanthenmadeagesturewhichusedtodistressme.Hewouldpasshisopenhandoverhisforehead，asiftowipeawayperspirationwhichdidnotexist，andhewouldanswernothing.Ifelthishelplesssuffering.Weeconomizedoneverything，andneverwouldacceptaninvitationtodinner，soasnottohavetoreturnthecourtesy.Allourprovisionswereboughtatbargainsales.Mysistersmadetheirowngowns，andlongdiscussionswouldariseonthepriceofapieceofbraidworthfifteencentimesayard.Ourmealsusuallyconsistedcfsoupandbeef，preparedwitheverykindofsauce.
Theysayitiswholesomeandnourishing，butIshouldhavepreferredachange.
"Iusedtogothroughterriblescenesonaccountoflostbuttonsandtorntrousers.
"EverySunday，dressedinourbest，wewouldtakeourwalkalongthebreakwater.Myfather，inafrockcoat，highhatandkidgloves，wouldofferhisarmtomymother，deckedoutandberibbonedlikeashiponaholiday.Mysisters，whowerealwaysreadyfirst，wouldawaitthesignalforleaving;butatthelastminutesomeonealwaysfoundaspotonmyfather’sfrockcoat，andithadtobewipedawayquicklywitharagmoistenedwithbenzine.
"Myfather，inhisshirtsleeves，hissilkhatonhishead，wouldawaitthecompletionoftheoperation，whilemymother，puttingonherspectacles，andtakingoffherglovesinordernottospoilthem，wouldmakehaste.
"Thenwesetoutceremoniously.Mysistersmarchedonahead，arminarm.
Theywereofmarriageableageandhadtobedisplayed.Iwalkedontheleftofmymotherandmyfatheronherright.IrememberthepompousairofmypoorparentsintheseSundaywalks，theirsternexpression，theirstiffwalk.Theymovedslowly，withaseriousexpression，theirbodiesstraight，theirlegsstiff，asifsomethingofextremeimportancedependedupontheirappearance.
"EverySunday，whenthebigsteamerswerereturningfromunknownanddistantcountries，myfatherwouldinvariablyutterthesamewords：
"’WhatasurpriseitwouldbeifJuleswereonthatone！Eh？’
"MyUncleJules，myfather’sbrother，wastheonlyhopeofthefamily，afterbeingitsonlyfear.Ihadheardabouthimsincechildhood，anditseemedtomethatIshouldrecognizehimimmediately，knowingasmuchabouthimasIdid.IkneweverydetailofhislifeuptothedayofhisdepartureforAmerica，althoughthisperiodofhislifewasspokenofonlyinhushedtones.
"Itseemsthathehadledabadlife，thatistosay，hehadsquanderedalittlemoney，whichaction，inapoorfamily，isoneofthegreatestcrimes.Withrichpeopleamanwhoamuseshimselfonlysowshiswildoats.Heiswhatisgenerallycalledasport.Butamongneedyfamiliesaboywhoforceshisparentstobreakintothecapitalbecomesagood—
for—nothing，arascal，ascamp.Andthisdistinctionisjust，althoughtheactionbethesame，forconsequencesalonedeterminetheseriousnessoftheact.
"Well，UncleJuleshadvisiblydiminishedtheinheritanceonwhichmyfatherhadcounted，afterhehadswallowedhisowntothelastpenny.
Then，accordingtothecustomofthetimes，hehadbeenshippedofftoAmericaonafreightergoingfromHavretoNewYork.
"Oncethere，myunclebegantosellsomethingorother，andhesoonwrotethathewasmakingalittlemoneyandthathesoonhopedtobeabletoindemnifymyfatherfortheharmhehaddonehim.Thislettercausedaprofoundemotioninthefamily.Jules，whouptothattimehadnotbeenworthhissalt，suddenlybecameagoodman，akind—heartedfellow，trueandhonestlikealltheDavranches.
"Oneofthecaptainstoldusthathehadrentedalargeshopandwasdoinganimportantbusiness.
"Twoyearslaterasecondlettercame，saying：’MydearPhilippe，Iamwritingtotellyounottoworryaboutmyhealth，whichisexcellent.
Businessisgood.Ileaveto—morrowforalongtriptoSouthAmerica.
Imaybeawayforseveralyearswithoutsendingyouanynews.IfI
shouldn’twrite，don’tworry.WhenmyfortuneismadeIshallreturntoHavre.Ihopethatitwillnotbetoolongandthatweshallalllivehappilytogether’
"Thisletterbecamethegospelofthefamily.Itwasreadontheslightestprovocation，anditwasshowntoeverybody.
"FortenyearsnothingwasheardfromUncleJules;butastimewentonmyfather’shopegrew，andmymother，also，oftensaid：
"’WhenthatgoodJulesishere，ourpositionwillbedifferent.Thereisonewhoknewhowtogetalong！’
"AndeverySunday，whilewatchingthebigsteamersapproachingfromthehorizon，pouringoutastreamofsmoke，myfatherwouldrepeathiseternalquestion：
"’WhatasurpriseitwouldbeifJuleswereonthatone！Eh？’
"Wealmostexpectedtoseehimwavinghishandkerchiefandcrying：
"’Hey！Philippe！’
"Thousandsofschemeshadbeenplannedonthestrengthofthisexpectedreturn;wewereeventobuyalittlehousewithmyuncle’smoney——alittleplaceinthecountrynearIngouville.Infact，Iwouldn’tswearthatmyfatherhadnotalreadybegunnegotiations.
"Theelderofmysisterswasthentwenty—eight，theothertwenty—six.
Theywerenotyetmarried，andthatwasagreatgrieftoeveryone.
"Atlastasuitorpresentedhimselffortheyoungerone.Hewasaclerk，notrich，buthonorable.IhavealwaysbeenmorallycertainthatUncleJules’letter，whichwasshownhimoneevening，hadsweptawaytheyoungman’shesitationanddefinitelydecidedhim.
"Hewasacceptedeagerly，anditwasdecidedthataftertheweddingthewholefamilyshouldtakeatriptoJersey.
"Jerseyistheidealtripforpoorpeople.Itisnotfar;onecrossesastripofseainasteamerandlandsonforeignsoil，asthislittleislandbelongstoEngland.Thus，aFrenchman，withatwohours’sail，canobserveaneighboringpeopleathomeandstudytheircustoms.
"ThistriptoJerseycompletelyabsorbedourideas，wasoursoleanticipation，theconstantthoughtofourminds.
"Atlastweleft.Iseeitasplainlyasifithadhappenedyesterday.
TheboatwasgettingupsteamagainstthequayatGranville;myfather，bewildered，wassuperintendingtheloadingofourthreepiecesofbaggage;mymother，nervous，hadtakenthearmofmyunmarriedsister，whoseemedlostsincethedepartureoftheotherone，likethelastchickenofabrood;behinduscamethebrideandgroom，whoalwaysstayedbehind，athingthatoftenmademeturnround.
"Thewhistlesounded.Wegotonboard，andthevessel，leavingthebreakwater，forgedaheadthroughaseaasflatasamarbletable.Wewatchedthecoastdisappearinthedistance，happyandproud，likeallwhodonottravelmuch.
"Myfatherwasswellingouthischestinthebreeze，beneathhisfrockcoat，whichhadthatmorningbeenverycarefullycleaned;andhespreadaroundhimthatodorofbenzinewhichalwaysmademerecognizeSunday.
Suddenlyhenoticedtwoelegantlydressedladiestowhomtwogentlemenwereofferingoysters.Anold，raggedsailorwasopeningthemwithhisknifeandpassingthemtothegentlemen，whowouldthenofferthemtotheladies.Theyatetheminadaintymanner，holdingtheshellonafinehandkerchiefandadvancingtheirmouthsalittleinordernottospottheirdresses.Thentheywoulddrinktheliquidwitharapidlittlemotionandthrowtheshelloverboard.
"Myfatherwasprobablypleasedwiththisdelicatemannerofeatingoystersonamovingship.Heconsidereditgoodform，refined，and，goinguptomymotherandsisters，heasked：
"’Wouldyoulikemetoofferyousomeoysters？’
"Mymotherhesitatedonaccountoftheexpense，butmytwosistersimmediatelyaccepted.Mymothersaidinaprovokedmanner：
"’Iamafraidthattheywillhurtmystomach.Offerthechildrensome，butnottoomuch，itwouldmakethemsick.’Then，turningtowardme，sheadded：
"’AsforJoseph，hedoesn’tneedany.Boysshouldn’tbespoiled.’
"However，Iremainedbesidemymother，findingthisdiscriminationunjust.Iwatchedmyfatherashepompouslyconductedmytwosistersandhisson—in—lawtowardtheraggedoldsailor.
"Thetwoladieshadjustleft，andmyfathershowedmysistershowtoeatthemwithoutspillingtheliquor.Heeventriedtogivethemanexample，andseizedanoyster.Heattemptedtoimitatetheladies，andimmediatelyspilledalltheliquidoverhiscoat.Iheardmymothermutter：
"’Hewoulddofarbettertokeepquiet.’
"But，suddenly，myfatherappearedtobeworried;heretreatedafewsteps，staredathisfamilygatheredaroundtheoldshellopener，andquicklycametowardus.Heseemedverypale，withapeculiarlook.Inalowvoicehesaidtomymother：
"’It’sextraordinaryhowthatmanopeningtheoysterslookslikeJules.’
"Astonished，mymotherasked：
"’WhatJules？’
"Myfathercontinued：
"’Why，mybrother.IfIdidnotknowthathewaswelloffinAmerica，I
shouldthinkitwashe.’
"Bewildered，mymotherstammered：
"’Youarecrazy！Aslongasyouknowthatitisnothe，whydoyousaysuchfoolishthings？’
"Butmyfatherinsisted：
"’Goonoverandsee，Clarisse！Iwouldratherhaveyouseewithyourowneyes.’
"Shearoseandwalkedtoherdaughters.I，too，waswatchingtheman.
Hewasold，dirty，wrinkled，anddidnotlifthiseyesfromhiswork.
"Mymotherreturned.Inoticedthatshewastrembling.Sheexclaimedquickly：
"’Ibelievethatitishe.Whydon’tyouaskthecaptain？Butbeverycarefulthatwedon’thavethisrogueonourhandsagain！’
"Myfatherwalkedaway，butIfollowedhim.Ifeltstrangelymoved.
"Thecaptain，atall，thinman，withblondwhiskers，waswalkingalongthebridgewithanimportantairasifhewerecommandingtheIndianmailsteamer.
"Myfatheraddressedhimceremoniously，andquestionedhimabouthisprofession，addingmanycompliments：
"’WhatmightbetheimportanceofJersey？Whatdiditproduce？Whatwasthepopulation？Thecustoms？Thenatureofthesoil？’etc.，etc.
"’Youhavethereanoldshellopenerwhoseemsquiteinteresting.Doyouknowanythingabouthim？’
"Thecaptain，whomthisconversationbegantoweary，answereddryly：
"’HeissomeoldFrenchtrampwhomIfoundlastyearinAmerica，andI
broughthimback.ItseemsthathehassomerelativesinHavre，butthathedoesn’twishtoreturntothembecauseheowesthemmoney.HisnameisJules——JulesDarmancheorDarvancheorsomethinglikethat.Itseemsthathewasoncerichoverthere，butyoucanseewhat’sleftofhimnow.’
"Myfatherturnedashypaleandmuttered，histhroatcontracted，hiseyeshaggard.
"’Ah！ah！verywell，verywell.I’mnotintheleastsurprised.Thankyouverymuch，captain.’
"Hewentaway，andtheastonishedsailorwatchedhimdisappear.Hereturnedtomymothersoupsetthatshesaidtohim：
"’Sitdown;someonewillnoticethatsomethingisthematter.’
"Hesankdownonabenchandstammered：
"’It’she！It’she！’
"Thenheasked：
"’Whatarewegoingtodo？’
"Sheansweredquickly：
"’Wemustgetthechildrenoutoftheway.SinceJosephknowseverything，hecangoandgetthem.Wemusttakegoodcarethatourson—
in—lawdoesn’tfindout.’
"Myfatherseemedabsolutelybewildered.Hemurmured：
"’Whatacatastrophe！’
"Suddenlygrowingfurious，mymotherexclaimed：
"’Ialwaysthoughtthatthatthiefneverwoulddoanything，andthathewoulddropdownonusagain！AsifonecouldexpectanythingfromaDavranche！’
"Myfatherpassedhishandoverhisforehead，ashealwaysdidwhenhiswifereproachedhim.Sheadded：
"’GiveJosephsomemoneysothathecanpayfortheoysters.Allthatitneededtocaptheclimaxwouldbetoberecognizedbythatbeggar.Thatwouldbeverypleasant！Let’sgetdowntotheotherendoftheboat，andtakecarethatthatmandoesn’tcomenearus！’
"Theygavemefivefrancsandwalkedaway.
"Astonished，mysisterswereawaitingtheirfather.Isaidthatmammahadfeltasuddenattackofsea—sickness，andIaskedtheshellopener：
"’Howmuchdoweoweyou，monsieur？’
"Ifeltlikelaughing：hewasmyuncle！Heanswered：
"’Twofrancsfifty.’
"Iheldoutmyfivefrancsandhereturnedthechange.Ilookedathishand;itwasapoor，wrinkled，sailor’shand，andIlookedathisface，anunhappyoldface.Isaidtomyself：
"’Thatismyuncle，thebrotherofmyfather，myuncle！’
"Igavehimaten—centtip.Hethankedme：
"’Godblessyou，myyoungsir！’
"Hespokelikeapoormanreceivingalms.Icouldn’thelpthinkingthathemusthavebeggedoverthere！Mysisterslookedatme，surprisedatmygenerosity.WhenIreturnedthetwofrancstomyfather，mymotheraskedmeinsurprise：
"’Wastherethreefrancs’worth？Thatisimpossible.’
"Iansweredinafirmvoice"’Igavetencentsasatip.’
"Mymotherstarted，and，staringatme，sheexclaimed：
"’Youmustbecrazy！Givetencentstothatman，tothatvagabond——’
"Shestoppedatalookfrommyfather，whowaspointingathisson—in—
law.Theneverybodywassilent.
"Beforeus，onthedistanthorizon，apurpleshadowseemedtoriseoutofthesea.ItwasJersey.
"AsweapproachedthebreakwateraviolentdesireseizedmeoncemoretoseemyUncleJules，tobenearhim，tosaytohimsomethingconsoling，somethingtender.Butasnoonewaseatinganymoreoysters，hehaddisappeared，havingprobablygonebelowtothedirtyholdwhichwasthehomeofthepoorwretch."
THEMODEL
Curvinglikeacrescentmoon，thelittletownofEtretat，withitswhitecliffs，itswhite，shinglybeachanditsbluesea，layinthesunlightathighnoononeJulyday.Ateitherextremityofthiscrescentitstwo"gates，"thesmallertotheright，thelargeroneattheleft，stretchedforth——oneadwarfandtheotheracolossallimb——intothewater，andthebelltower，almostastallasthecliff，widebelow，narrowingatthetop，raiseditspointedsummittothesky.
Onthesandsbesidethewateracrowdwasseatedwatchingthebathers.
Ontheterraceof，theCasinoanothercrowd，seatedorwalking，displayedbeneaththebrilliantskyaperfectflowerpatchofbrightcostumes，withredandblueparasolsembroideredwithlargeflowersinsilk.
Onthewalkattheendoftheterrace，otherpersons，therestful，quietones，werewalkingslowly，farfromthedressythrong.
Ayoungman，wellknownandcelebratedasapainter，JeanSumner，waswalkingwithadejectedairbesideawheeledchairinwhichsatayoungwoman，hiswife.Amanservantwasgentlypushingthechair，andthecrippledwomanwasgazingsadlyatthebrightnessofthesky，thegladnessoftheday，andthehappinessofothers.
Theydidnotspeak.Theydidnotlookateachother.
"Letusstopawhile，"saidtheyoungwoman.
Theystopped，andthepaintersatdownonacampstoolthattheservanthandedhim.
Thosewhowerepassingbehindthesilentandmotionlesscouplelookedatthemcompassionately.Awholelegendofdevotionwasattachedtothem.
Hehadmarriedherinspiteofherinfirmity，touchedbyheraffectionforhim，itwassaid.
Notfarfromthere，twoyoungmenwerechatting，seatedonabenchandlookingoutintothehorizon.
"No，itisnottrue;ItellyouthatIamwellacquaintedwithJeanSumner."
"Butthen，whydidhemarryher？Forshewasacripplewhenshemarried，wasshenot？"
"Justso.Hemarriedher——hemarriedher——justaseveryonemarries，parbleu！becausehewasanidiot！"
"Butwhy？"
"Butwhy——butwhy，myfriend？Thereisnowhy.Peopledostupidthingsjustbecausetheydostupidthings.And，besides，youknowverywellthatpaintersmakeaspecialtyoffoolishmarriages.Theyalmostalwaysmarrymodels，formersweethearts，infact，womenofdoubtfulreputation，frequently.Whydotheydothis？Whocansay？Onewouldsupposethatconstantassociationwiththegeneralrunofmodelswoulddisgustthemforeverwiththatclassofwomen.Notatall.Afterhavingposedthemtheymarrythem.Readthatlittlebook，sotrue，socruelandsobeautiful，byAlphonseDaudet：’Artists’Wives.’
"Inthecaseofthecoupleyouseeovertheretheaccidentoccurredinaspecialandterriblemanner.Thelittlewomanplayedafrightfulcomedy，or，rather，tragedy.Sheriskedalltowinall.Wasshesincere？DidsheloveJean？Shallweeverknow？Whoisabletodeterminepreciselyhowmuchisputonandhowmuchisrealintheactionsofawoman？Theyarealwayssincereinaneternalmobilityofimpressions.Theyarefurious，criminal，devoted，admirableandbaseinobediencetointangibleemotions.Theytellliesincessantlywithoutintention，withoutknowingorunderstandingwhy，andinspiteofitallareabsolutelyfrankintheirfeelingsandsentiments，whichtheydisplaybyviolent，unexpected，incomprehensible，foolishresolutionswhichoverthrowourarguments，ourcustomarypoiseandallourselfishplans.Theunforeseennessandsuddennessoftheirdeterminationswillalwaysrenderthemundecipherableenigmasasfarasweareconcerned.Wecontinuallyaskourselves：
’Aretheysincere？Aretheypretending？’
"But，myfriend，theyaresincereandinsincereatoneandthesametime，becauseitistheirnaturetobeextremistsinbothandtobeneitheronenortheother.
"Seethemethodsthateventhebestofthememploytogetwhattheydesire.Theyarecomplexandsimple，thesemethods.Socomplexthatwecanneverguessatthembeforehand，andsosimplethatafterhavingbeenvictimizedwecannothelpbeingastonishedandexclaiming：’What！Didshemakeafoolofmesoeasilyasthat？’
"Andtheyalwayssucceed，oldman，especiallywhenitisaquestionofgettingmarried.
"ButthisisSumner’sstory：
"Thelittlewomanwasamodel，ofcourse.Sheposedforhim.Shewaspretty，verystylish—looking，andhadadivinefigure，itseems.Hefanciedthathelovedherwithhiswholesoul.Thatisanotherstrangething.Assoonasonelikesawomanonesincerelybelievesthattheycouldnotgetalongwithoutherfortherestoftheirlife.Oneknowsthatonehasfeltthesamewaybeforeandthatdisgustinvariablysucceededgratification;thatinordertopassone’sexistencesidebysidewithanothertheremustbenotabrutal，physicalpassionwhichsoondiesout，butasympathyofsoul，temperamentandtemper.Oneshouldknowhowtodetermineintheenchantmenttowhichoneissubjectedwhetheritproceedsfromthephysical，fromacertainsensuousintoxication，orfromadeepspiritualcharm.
"Well，hebelievedhimselfinlove;hemadehernoendofpromisesoffidelity，andwasdevotedtoher.
"Shewasreallyattractive，giftedwiththatfashionableflippancythatlittleParisianssoreadilyaffect.Shechattered，babbled，madefoolishremarksthatsoundedwittyfromthemannerinwhichtheywereuttered.
Sheusedgracefulgesture’swhichwerecalculatedtoattractapainter’seye.Whensheraisedherarms，whenshebentover，whenshegotintoacarriage，whensheheldoutherhandtoyou，hergestureswereperfectandappropriate.
"ForthreemonthsJeannevernoticedthat，inreality，shewaslikeallothermodels.
"HerentedalittlehouseforherforthesummeratAndresy.
"Iwasthereoneeveningwhenforthefirsttimedoubtscameintomyfriend’smind.
"Asitwasabeautifuleveningwethoughtwewouldtakeastrollalongthebankoftheriver.Themoonpouredafloodoflightonthetremblingwater，scatteringyellowgleamsalongitsripplesinthecurrentsandallalongthecourseofthewide，slowriver.
"Westrolledalongthebank，alittleenthusedbythatvagueexaltationthatthesedreamyeveningsproduceinus.Wewouldhavelikedtoundertakesomewonderfultask，tolovesomeunknown，deliciouslypoeticbeing.Wefeltourselvesvibratingwithraptures，longings，strangeaspirations.Andweweresilent，ourbeingspervadedbythesereneandlivingcoolnessofthebeautifulnight，thecoolnessofthemoonlight，whichseemedtopenetrateone’sbody，permeateit，sootheone’sspirit，fillitwithfragranceandsteepitinhappiness.
"SuddenlyJosephine（thatishername）utteredanexclamation：
"’Oh，didyouseethebigfishthatjumped，overthere？’
"Herepliedwithoutlooking，withoutthinking：
"’Yes，dear.’
"Shewasangry.
"’No，youdidnotseeit，foryourbackwasturned.’
"Hesmiled.
"’Yes，that’strue.ItissodelightfulthatIamnotthinkingofanything.’
"Shewassilent，butattheendofaminuteshefeltasifshemustsaysomethingandasked：
"’AreyougoingtoParisto—morrow？’
"’Idonotknow，’hereplied.
"Shewasannoyedagain.
"’Doyouthinkitisveryamusingtowalkalongwithoutspeaking？Peopletalkwhentheyarenotstupid.’
"Hedidnotreply.Then，feelingwithherwoman’sinstinctthatshewasgoingtomakehimangry，shebegantosingapopularairthathadharassedourearsandourmindsfortwoyears：
"’Jeregardaisenfair.’
"Hemurmured：
"’Pleasekeepquiet.’
"Sherepliedangrily：
"’Whydoyouwishmetokeepquiet？’
"’Youspoilthelandscapeforus！’hesaid.
"Thenfollowedascene，ahateful，idioticscene，withunexpectedreproaches，unsuitablerecriminations，thentears.Nothingwasleftunsaid.Theywentbacktothehouse.Hehadallowedhertotalkwithoutreplying，enervatedbythebeautyofthesceneanddumfoundedbythisstormofabuse.
"Threemonthslaterhestrovewildlytofreehimselffromthoseinvincibleandinvisiblebondswithwhichsuchafriendshipchainsourlives.Shekepthimunderherinfluence，tyrannizingoverhim，makinghislifeaburdentohim.Theyquarreledcontinually，vituperatingandfinallyfightingeachother.
"Hewantedtobreakwithheratanycost.Hesoldallhiscanvases，borrowedmoneyfromhisfriends，realizingtwentythousandfrancs（hewasnotwellknownthen），andleftthemforheronemorningwithanoteoffarewell.
"Hecameandtookrefugewithme.
"Aboutthreeo’clockthatafternoontherewasaringatthebell.Iwenttothedoor.Awomansprangtowardme，pushedmeaside，cameinandwentintomyatelier.Itwasshe！
"Hehadrisenwhenhesawhercoming.’
"Shethrewtheenvelopecontainingthebanknotesathisfeetwithatrulynoblegestureandsaidinaquicktone：
"’There’syourmoney.Idon’twantit！’
"Shewasverypale，tremblingandreadyundoubtedlytocommitanyfolly.
Asforhim，Isawhimgrowpalealso，palewithrageandexasperation，readyalsoperhapstocommitanyviolence.
"Heasked：
"’Whatdoyouwant？’
"Shereplied：
"’Idonotchoosetobetreatedlikeacommonwoman.Youimploredmetoacceptyou.Iaskedyoufornothing.Keepmewithyou！’
"Hestampedhisfoot.
"’No，that’salittletoomuch！Ifyouthinkyouaregoing——’
"Ihadseizedhisarm.
"’Keepstill，JeanLetmesettleit.’
"Iwenttowardherandquietly，littlebylittle，Ibegantoreasonwithher，exhaustingalltheargumentsthatareusedundersimilarcircumstances.Shelistenedtome，motionless，withafixedgaze，obstinateandsilent.
"Finally，notknowingwhatmoretosay，andseeingthattherewouldbeascene，Ithoughtofalastresortandsaid：
"’Helovesyoustill，mydear，buthisfamilywanthimtomarrysomeone，andyouunderstand——’
"Shegaveastartandexclaimed：
"’Ah！Ah！NowIunderstand：
"Andturningtowardhim，shesaid：
"’Youare——youaregoingtogetmarried？’
"Hereplieddecidedly"’Yes.’
"Shetookastepforward.
"’Ifyoumarry，Iwillkillmyself！Doyouhear？’
"Heshruggedhisshouldersandreplied：
"’Well，thenkillyourself！’
"Shestammeredout，almostchokingwithherviolentemotion：
"’Whatdoyousay？Whatdoyousay？Whatdoyousay？Sayitagain！’
"Herepeated：
"’Well，thenkillyourselfifyoulike！’
"Withherfacealmostlivid，shereplied：
"’Donotdareme！Iwillthrowmyselffromthewindow！’
"Hebegantolaugh，walkedtowardthewindow，openedit，andbowingwiththegestureofonewhodesirestoletsomeoneelseprecedehim，hesaid：
"’Thisistheway.Afteryou！’
"Shelookedathimforasecondwithterrible，wild，staringeyes.Then，takingarunasifsheweregoingtojumpahedgeinthecountry，sherushedpastmeandpasthim，jumpedoverthesillanddisappeared.
"IshallneverforgettheimpressionmadeonmebythatopenwindowafterIhadseenthatbodypassthroughittofalltotheground.Itappearedtomeinasecondtobeaslargeastheheavensandashollowasspace.
AndIdrewbackinstinctively，notdaringtolookatit，asthoughI
fearedImightfalloutmyself.
"Jean，dumfounded，stoodmotionless.
"Theybroughtthepoorgirlinwithbothlegsbroken.Shewillneverwalkagain.
"Jean，wildwithremorseandalsopossiblytouchedwithgratitude，madeuphismindtomarryher.
"Thereyouhaveit，oldman."
Itwasgrowingdusk.Theyoungwomanfeltchillyandwantedtogohome，andtheservantwheeledtheinvalidchairinthedirectionofthevillage.Thepainterwalkedbesidehiswife，neitherofthemhavingexchangedawordforanhour.
ThisstoryappearedinLeGaulois，December17，1883.
AVAGABOND
Hewasajourneymancarpenter，agoodworkmanandasteadyfellow，twenty—sevenyearsold，but，althoughtheeldestson，JacquesRandelhadbeenforcedtoliveonhisfamilyfortwomonths，owingtothegenerallackofwork.Hehadwalkedaboutseekingworkforoveramonthandhadlefthisnativetown，Ville—Avary，inLaManche，becausehecouldfindnothingtodoandwouldnolongerdeprivehisfamilyofthebreadtheyneededthemselves，whenhewasthestrongestofthemall.Histwosistersearnedbutlittleascharwomen.Hewentandinquiredatthetownhall，andthemayor’ssecretarytoldhimthathewouldfindworkattheLaborAgency，andsohestarted，wellprovidedwithpa
