第28章

Itwassummer.Shewenttothefieldstoseethemenharvesting.Thebrightnessofthesunshinefoundanechoinherheart.

Theautumncame.Herhusbandwentoutshooting.HestartedinthemorningwithhistwodogsMedorandMirza.Sheremainedalone，withoutgrieving，moreover，atHenry’sabsence.Shewasveryfondofhim，butshedidnotmisshim.Whenhereturnedhome，heraffectionwasespeciallybestowedonthedogs.Shetookcareofthemeveryeveningwithamother’stenderness，caressedthemincessantly，gavethemathousandcharminglittlenameswhichshehadnoideaofapplyingtoherhusband.

Heinvariablytoldherallabouthissport.Hedescribedtheplaceswherehefoundpartridges，expressedhisastonishmentatnothavingcaughtanyharesinJosephLedentu’sclever，orelseappearedindignantattheconductofM.Lechapelier，ofHavre，whoalwayswentalongtheedgeofhispropertytoshootthegamethathe，HenrydeParville，hadstarted.

Shereplied："Yes，indeed！itisnotright，"thinkingofsomethingelseallthewhile.

Thewintercame，theNormanwinter，coldandrainy.Theendlessfloodsofraincamedowntintheslatesofthegreatgabledroof，risinglikeaknifebladetowardthesky.Theroadsseemedlikeriversofmud，thecountryaplainofmud，andnosoundcouldbeheardsavethatofwaterfalling;nomovementcouldbeseensavethewhirlingflightofcrowsthatsettleddownlikeacloudonafieldandthenhurriedoffagain.

Aboutfouro’clock，thearmyofdark，flyingcreaturescameandperchedinthetallbeechesattheleftofthechateau，emittingdeafeningcries.

Duringnearlyanhour，theyflewfromtreetoptotreetop，seemedtobefighting，croaked，andmadeablackdisturbanceinthegraybranches.

Shegazedatthemeacheveningwithaweightatherheart，sodeeplywassheimpressedbythelugubriousmelancholyofthedarknessfallingonthedesertedcountry.

Thensherangforthelamp，anddrewnearthefire.Sheburnedheapsofwoodwithoutsucceedinginwarmingthespaciousapartmentsreekingwithhumidity.Shewascoldalldaylong，everywhere，inthedrawing—room，atmeals，inherownapartment.Itseemedtohershewascoldtothemarrowofherbones.Herhusbandonlycameintodinner;hewasalwaysoutshooting，orelsehewassuperintendingsowingtheseed，tillingthesoil，andalltheworkofthecountry.

Hewouldcomebackjovial，andcoveredwithmud，rubbinghishandsasheexclaimed：

"Whatwretchedweather！"

Orelse：

"Afirelookscomfortable！"

Orsometimes：

"Well，howareyouto—day？Areyouingoodspirits？"

Hewashappy，ingoodhealth，withoutdesires，thinkingofnothingsavethissimple，healthy，andquietlife.

AboutDecember，whenthesnowhadcome，shesufferedsomuchfromtheicy—coldairofthechateauwhichseemedtohavebecomechilledinpassingthroughthecenturiesjustashumanbeingsbecomechilledwithyears，thatsheaskedherhusbandoneevening：

"Lookhere，Henry！Yououghttohaveafurnaceputintothehouse;itwoulddrythewalls.IassureyouthatIcannotkeepwarmfrommorningtillnight."

Atfirsthewasstunnedatthisextravagantideaofintroducingafurnaceintohismanor—house.Itwouldhaveseemedmorenaturaltohimtohavehisdogsfedoutofsilverdishes.Hegaveatremendouslaughfromthebottomofhischestasheexclaimed：

"Afurnacehere！Afurnacehere！Ha！ha！ha！whatagoodjoke！"

Shepersisted：

"Iassureyou，dear，Ifeelfrozen;youdon’tfeelitbecauseyouarealwaysmovingabout;butallthesame，Ifeelfrozen."

Hereplied，stilllaughing：

"Pooh！you’llgetusedtoit，andbesidesitisexcellentforthehealth.Youwillonlybeallthebetterforit.WearenotParisians，damnit！toliveinhot—houses.And，besides，thespringisquitenear."

AboutthebeginningofJanuary，agreatmisfortunebefellher.Herfatherandmotherdiedinacarriageaccident.ShecametoParisforthefuneral.Andhersorrowtookentirepossessionofhermindforaboutsixmonths.

Themildnessofthebeautifulsummerdaysfinallyrousedher，andshelivedalonginastateofsadlanguoruntilautumn.

Whenthecoldweatherreturned，shewasbroughtfacetoface，forthefirsttime，withthegloomyfuture.Whatwasshetodo？Nothing.Whatwasgoingtohappentoherhenceforth？Nothing.Whatexpectation，whathope，couldreviveherheart？None.Adoctorwhowasconsulteddeclaredthatshewouldneverhavechildren.

Sharper，morepenetratingstillthantheyearbefore，thecoldmadehersuffercontinually.

Shestretchedouthershiveringhandstothebigflames.Theglaringfireburnedherface;buticywhiffsseemedtoglidedownherbackandtopenetratebetweenherskinandherunderclothing.Andsheshiveredfromheadtofoot.Innumerabledraughtsofairappearedtohavetakenuptheirabodeintheapartment，living，craftycurrentsofairascruelasenemies.Sheencounteredthemateverymoment;theyblewonherincessantlytheirperfidiousandfrozenhatred，nowonherface，nowonherhands，andnowonherback.

Oncemoreshespokeofafurnace;butherhusbandlistenedtoherrequestasifshewereaskingforthemoon.TheintroductionofsuchanapparatusatParvilleappearedtohimasimpossibleasthediscoveryofthePhilosopher’sStone.

HavingbeenatRouenonbusinessoneday，hebroughtbacktohiswifeadaintyfootwarmermadeofcopper，whichhelaughinglycalleda"portablefurnace";andheconsideredthatthiswouldpreventherhenceforthfromeverbeingcold.

TowardtheendofDecembersheunderstoodthatshecouldnotalwayslivelikethis，andshesaidtimidlyoneeveningatdinner：

"Listen，dear！Arewe，notgoingtospendaweekortwoinParisbeforespring："

Hewasstupefied.

"InParis？InParis？Butwhatarewetodothere？Ah！nobyJove！Wearebetteroffhere.Whatoddideascomeintoyourheadsometimes."

Shefaltered：

"Itmightdistractusalittle."

Hedidnotunderstand.

"Whatisityouwanttodistractyou？Theatres，eveningparties，dinnersintown？Youknew，however，whenyoucamehere，thatyououghtnottoexpectanydistractionsofthiskind！"

Shesawareproachinthesewords，andinthetoneinwhichtheywereuttered.Sherelapsedintosilence.Shewastimidandgentle，withoutresistingpowerandwithoutstrengthofwill.

InJanuarythecoldweatherreturnedwithviolence.Thenthesnowcoveredtheearth.

Oneevening，asshewatchedthegreatblackcloudofcrowsdispersingamongthetrees，shebegantoweep，inspiteofherself.

Herhusbandcamein.Heaskedingreatsurprise：

"Whatisthematterwithyou？"

Hewashappy，quitehappy，neverhavingdreamedofanotherlifeorotherpleasures.Hehadbeenbornandhadgrownupinthismelancholydistrict.Hefeltcontentedinhisownhouse，ateaseinbodyandmind.

Hedidnotunderstandthatonemightdesireincidents，havealongingforchangingpleasures;hedidnotunderstandthatitdoesnotseemnaturaltocertainbeingstoremaininthesameplaceduringthefourseasons;heseemednottoknowthatspring，summer，autumn，andwinterhave，formultitudesofpersons，freshamusementsinnewplaces.

Shecouldsaynothinginreply，andshequicklydriedhereyes.Atlastshemurmuredinadespairingtone：

"Iam——I——Iamalittlesad——Iamalittlebored."

Butshewasterrifiedathavingevensaidsomuch，andaddedveryquickly：

"And，besides——Iam——Iamalittlecold."

Thislastpleamadehimangry.

"Ah！yes，stillyourideaofthefurnace.Butlookhere，deucetakeit！

youhavenothadonecoldsinceyoucamehere."

Nightcameon.Shewentuptoherroom，forshehadinsistedonhavingaseparateapartment.Shewenttobed.Eveninbedshefeltcold.Shethought：

"Itwillbealwayslikethis，always，untilIdie."

Andshethoughtofherhusband.Howcouldhehavesaid：

"You——havenothadonecoldsinceyoucamehere"？

Shewouldhavetobeill，tocoughbeforehecouldunderstandwhatshesuffered！

Andshewasfilledwithindignation，theangryindignationofaweak，timidbeing.

Shemustcough.Then，perhaps，hewouldtakepityonher.Well，shewouldcough;heshouldhearhercoughing;thedoctorshouldbecalledin;

heshouldsee，herhusband，heshouldsee.

Shegotoutofbed，herlegsandherfeetbare，andachildishideamadehersmile：

"Iwantafurnace，andImusthaveit.Ishallcoughsomuchthathe’llhavetoputoneinthehouse."

Andshesatdowninachairinhernightdress.Shewaitedanhour，twohours.Sheshivered，butshedidnotcatchcold.Thensheresolvedonaboldexpedient.

Shenoiselesslyleftherroom，descendedthestairs，andopenedthegateintothegarden.

Theearth，coveredwithsnowsseemeddead.Sheabruptlythrustforwardherbarefoot，andplungeditintotheicy，fleecysnow.Asensationofcold，painfulasawound，mountedtoherheart.However，shestretchedouttheotherleg，andbegantodescendthestepsslowly.

Thensheadvancedthroughthegrasssayingtoherself：

"I’llgoasfarasthepinetrees."

Shewalkedwithquicksteps，outofbreath，gaspingeverytimesheplungedherfootintothesnow.

Shetouchedthefirstpinetreewithherhand，asiftoassureherselfthatshehadcarriedoutherplantotheend;thenshewentbackintothehouse.Shethoughttwoorthreetimesthatshewasgoingtofall，sonumbedandweakdidshefeel.Beforegoingin，however，shesatdowninthaticyfleece，andeventookupseveralhandfulstorubonherchest.

Thenshewentinandgotintobed.Itseemedtoherattheendofanhourthatshehadaswarmofantsinherthroat，andthatotherantswererunningalloverherlimbs.Sheslept，however.

Nextdayshewascoughingandcouldnotgetup.

Shehadinflammationofthelungs.Shebecamedelirious，andinherdeliriumsheaskedforafurnace.Thedoctorinsistedonhavingoneputin.Henryyielded，butwithvisibleannoyance.

Shewasincurable.Herlungswereseriouslyaffected，andthoseaboutherfearedforherlife.

"Ifsheremainshere，shewillnotlastuntilthewinter，"saidthedoctor.

Shewassentsouth.ShecametoCannes，madetheacquaintanceofthesun，lovedthesea，andbreathedtheperfumeoforangeblossoms.

Then，inthespring，shereturnednorth.

Butshenowlivedwiththefearofbeingcured，withthefearofthelongwintersofNormandy;andassoonasshewasbettersheopenedherwindowbynightandrecalledthesweetshoresoftheMediterranean.

Andnowsheisgoingtodie.Sheknowsitandsheishappy.

Sheunfoldsanewspaperwhichshehasnotalreadyopened，andreadsthisheading：

"ThefirstsnowinParis."

Sheshiversandthensmiles.ShelooksacrossattheEsterel，whichisbecomingrosyintheraysofthesettingsun.Shelooksatthevastbluesky，soblue，soveryblue，andthevastbluesea，soverybluealso，andsherisesfromherseat.

Andthenshereturnedtothehousewithslowsteps，onlystoppingtocough，forshehadremainedouttoolongandshewascold，alittlecold.

Shefindsaletterfromherhusband.Sheopensit，stillsmiling，andshereads：

"MYDEARLOVE：Ihopeyouarewell，andthatyoudonotregrettoomuchourbeautifulcountry.Forsomedayslastwehavehadagoodfrost，whichpresagessnow.Formypart，Iadorethisweather，andyoumybelievethatIdonotlightyourdamnedfurnace."

Sheceasesreading，quitehappyatthethoughtthatshehadherfurnaceputin.Herrighthand，whichholdstheletter，fallsslowlyonherlap，whilesheraisesherlefthandtohermouth，asiftocalmtheobstinatecoughwhichisrackingherchest.

SUNDAYSOFABOURGEOIS

PREPARATIONSFORTHEEXCURSION

M.Patissot，borninParis，afterhavingfailedinhisexaminationsattheCollegeHenriIV.，likemanyothers，hadenteredthegovernmentservicethroughtheinfluenceofoneofhisaunts，whokeptatobaccostorewheretheheadofoneofthedepartmentsboughthisprovisions.

Headvancedveryslowly，andwould，perhaps，havediedafourth—classclerkwithouttheaidofakindlyProvidence，whichsometimeswatchesoverourdestiny.Heistodayfifty—twoyearsold，anditisonlyatthisagethatheisbeginningtoexplore，asatourist，allthatpartofFrancewhichliesbetweenthefortificationsandtheprovinces.

Thestoryofhisadvancemightbeusefultomanyemployees，justasthetaleofhisexcursionsmaybeofvaluetomanyParisianswhowilltakethemasamodelfortheirownoutings，andwillthus，throughhisexample，avoidcertainmishapswhichoccurredtohim.

In1854heonlyenjoyedasalaryof1，800francs.Throughapeculiartraitofhischaracterhewasunpopularwithallhissuperiors，wholethimlanguishintheeternalandhopelessexpectationoftheclerk’sideal，anincreaseofsalary.Neverthelessheworked;buthedidnotknowhowtomakehimselfappreciated.Hehadtoomuchself—respect，heclaimed.Hisself—respectconsistedinneverbowingtohissuperiorsinalowandservilemanner，asdid，accordingtohim，certainofhiscolleagues，whomhewouldnotmention.Headdedthathisfranknessembarrassedmanypeople，for，likealltherest，heprotestedagainstinjusticeandthefavoritismshowntopersonsentirelyforeigntothebureaucracy.Buthisindignantvoiceneverpassedbeyondthelittlecagewhereheworked.

Firstasagovernmentclerk，thenasaFrenchmanandfinallyasamanwhobelievedinorderhewouldadheretowhatevergovernmentwasestablished，havinganunboundedreverenceforauthority，exceptforthatofhischiefs.

Eachtimethathegotthechancehewouldplacehimselfwherehecouldseetheemperorpass，inordertohavethehonoroftakinghishatofftohim;andhewouldgoawaypuffedupwithprideathavingbowedtotheheadofthestate.

Fromhishabitofobservingthesovereignhedidasmanyothersdo;heimitatedthewayhetrimmedhisbeardorarrangedhishair，thecutofhisclothes，hiswalk，hismannerisms.Indeed，howmanymenineachcountryseemedtobethelivingimagesoftheheadofthegovernment！

PerhapshevaguelyresembledNapoleonIII.，buthishairwasblack;

thereforehedyedit，andthenthelikenesswascomplete;andwhenhemetanothergentlemaninthestreetalsoimitatingtheimperialcountenancehewasjealousandlookedathimdisdainfully.Thisneedofimitationsoonbecamehishobby，and，havingheardanusherattheTuilleriesimitatethevoiceoftheemperor，healsoacquiredthesameintonationsandstudiedslowness.

Hethusbecamesomuchlikehismodelthattheymighteasilyhavebeenmistakenforeachother，andcertainhighdignitarieswereheardtoremarkthattheyfounditunseemlyandevenvulgar;thematterwasmentionedtotheprimeminister，whoorderedthattheemployeeshouldappearbeforehim.Butatthesightofhimhebegantolaughandrepeatedtwoorthreetimes："That’sfunny，reallyfunny！"Thiswasrepeated，andthefollowingdayPatissot’simmediatesuperiorrecommendedthathissubordinatereceiveanincreaseofsalaryofthreehundredfrancs.Hereceiveditimmediately.

Fromthattimeonhispromotionscameregularly，thankstohisape—likefacultyofimitation.Thepresentimentthatsomehighhonormightcometohimsomedaycausedhischiefstospeaktohimwithdeference.

WhentheRepublicwasproclaimeditwasadisasterforhim.Hefeltlost，donefor，and，losinghishead，hestoppeddyeinghishair，shavedhisfacecleanandhadhishaircutshort，thusacquiringapaternalandbenevolentexpressionwhichcouldnotcompromisehiminanyway.

Thenhischiefstookrevengeforthelongtimeduringwhichhehadimposeduponthem，and，havingallturnedRepublicanthroughaninstinctofselfpreservation，theycutdownhissalaryanddelayedhispromotion.

He，too，changedhisopinions.ButtheRepublicnotbeingapalpableandlivingpersonwhomonecanresemble，andthepresidentssucceedingeachotherwithrapidity，hefoundhimselfplungedinthegreatestembarrassment，interribledistress，and，afteranunsuccessfulimitationofhislastideal，M.Thiers，hefeltacheckputonallhisattemptsatimitation.Heneededanewmanifestationofhispersonality.Hesearchedforalongtime;then，onemorning，hearrivedattheofficewearinganewhatwhichhadonthesideasmallred，whiteandbluerosette.Hiscolleagueswereastounded;theylaughedallthatday，thenextday，alltheweek，allthemonth.Buttheseriousnessofhisdemeanoratlastdisconcertedthem，andoncemorehissuperiorsbecameanxious.Whatmysterycouldbehiddenunderthissign？Wasitasimplemanifestationofpatriotism，oranaffirmationofhisallegiancetotheRepublic，orperhapsthebadgeofsomepowerfulassociation？Buttowearitsopersistentlyhemustsurelyhavesomepowerfulandhiddenprotection.Itwouldbewelltobeonone’sguard，especiallyashereceivedallpleasantrieswithunruffledcalmness.Afterthathewastreatedwithrespect，andhisshamcouragesavedhim;hewasappointedheadclerkonthefirstofJanuary，1880.Hiswholelifehadbeenspentindoors.Hehatednoiseandbustle，andbecauseofthisloveofrestandquiethehadremainedabachelor.HespenthisSundaysreadingtalesofadventureandrulingguidelineswhichheafterwardofferedtohiscolleagues.Inhiswholeexistencehehadonlytakenthreevacationsofaweekeach，whenhewaschanginghisquarters.Butsometimes，onaholiday，hewouldleavebyanexcursiontrainforDieppeorHavreinordertoelevatehismindbytheinspiringsightofthesea.

Hewasfullofthatcommonsensewhichbordersonstupidity.Foralongtimehehadbeenlivingquietly，witheconomy，temperatethroughprudence，chastebytemperament，whensuddenlyhewasassailedbyaterribleapprehension.Oneeveninginthestreethesuddenlyfeltanattackofdizzinesswhichmadehimfearastrokeofapoplexy.Hehastenedtoaphysicianandforfivefrancsobtainedthefollowingprescription：

M.X—，fifty—fiveyearsold，bachelor，clerk.Full—blooded，dangerofapoplexy.Cold—waterapplications，moderatenourishment，plentyofexercise.MONTELLIER，M.D.

Patissotwasgreatlydistressed，andforawholemonth，inhisoffice，hekeptawettowelwrappedaroundhisheadlikeaturbanwhilethewatercontinuallydrippedonhiswork，whichhewouldhavetodooveragain.

Everyonceinawhilehewouldreadtheprescriptionover，probablyinthehopeoffindingsomehiddenmeaning，ofpenetratingintothesecretthoughtofthephysician，andalsoofdiscoveringsomeformsofexercisewhich，mightperhapsmakehimimmunefromapoplexy.

Thenheconsultedhisfriends，showingthemthefatefulpaper.Oneadvisedboxing.Heimmediatelyhuntedupaninstructor，and，onthefirstday，hereceivedapunchinthenosewhichimmediatelytookawayallhisambitioninthisdirection.Single—stickmadehimgaspforbreath，andhegrewsostifffromfencingthatfortwodaysandtwonightshecouldnotgetsleep.Thenabrightideastruckhim.Itwastowalk，everySunday，tosomesuburbofParisandeventocertainplacesinthecapitalwhichhedidnotknow.

Forawholeweekhismindwasoccupiedwiththoughtsoftheequipmentwhichyouneedfortheseexcursions;andonSunday，the30thofMay，hebeganhispreparations.Afterreadingalltheextraordinaryadvertisementswhichpoor，blindandhaltbeggarsdistributeonthestreetcorners，hebegantovisitthestoreswiththeintentionoflookingabouthimonlyandofbuyinglateron.Firstofall，hevisitedaso—calledAmericanshoestore，whereheavytravellingshoeswereshownhim.Theclerkbroughtoutakindofironcladcontrivance，studdedwithspikeslikeaharrow，whichheclaimedtobemadefromRockyMountainbisonskin.Hewassocarriedawaywiththemthathewouldwillinglyhaveboughttwopair，butonewassufficient.Hecarriedthemawayunderhisarm，whichsoonbecamenumbfromtheweight.Henextinvestedinapairofcorduroytrousers，suchascarpenterswear，andapairofoiledcanvasleggings.Thenheneededaknapsackforhisprovisions，atelescopesoastorecognizevillagesperchedontheslopeofdistanthills，andfinally，agovernmentsurveymaptoenablehimtofindhiswayaboutwithoutaskingthepeasantstoilinginthefields.Lastly，inordermorecomfortablytostandtheheat，hedecidedtopurchasealightalpacajacketofferedbythefamousfirmofRaminau，accordingtotheiradvertisement，forthemodestsumofsixfrancsandfiftycentimes.Hewenttothisstoreandwaswelcomedbyadistinguished—lookingyoungmanwithamarvellousheadofhair，nailsaspinkasthoseofaladyandapleasantsmile.Heshowedhimthegarment.Itdidnotcorrespondwiththeglowingstyleoftheadvertisement.ThenPatissothesitatinglyasked，"Well，monsieur，willitwearwell？"Theyoungmanturnedhiseyesawayinwell—feignedembarrassment，likeanhonestmanwhodoesnotwishtodeceiveacustomer，and，loweringhiseyes，hesaidinahesitatingmanner："Dearme，monsieur，youunderstandthatforsixfrancsfiftywecannotturnoutanarticlelikethisforinstance."Andheshowedhimamuchfinerjacketthanthefirstone.Patissotexamineditandaskedtheprice."Twelvefrancsfifty."Itwasverytempting，butbeforedeciding，heoncemorequestionedthebigyoungman，whowasobservinghimattentively."And——isthatgood？Doyouguaranteeit？""Oh！

certainly，monsieur，itisquitegoad！But，ofcourse，youmustnotgetitwet！Yes，it’sreallyquitegood，butyouunderstandthattherearegoodsandgoods.It’sexcellentfortheprice.Twelvefrancsfifty，justthink.Why，that’snothingatall.Naturallyatwenty—five—franccoatismuchbetter.Fortwenty—fivefrancsyougetasuperiorquality，asstrongaslinen，andwhichwearsevenbetter.Ifitgetswetalittleironingwillfixitrightup.Thecolorneverfades，anditdoesnotturnredinthesunlight.Itisthewarmestandlightestmaterialout."

Heunfoldedhiswares，holdingthemup，shakingthem，crumplingandstretchingtheminordertoshowtheexcellentqualityofthecloth.Hetalkedonconvincingly，dispellingallhesitationbywordsandgesture.

Patissotwasconvinced;heboughtthecoat.Thepleasantsalesman，stilltalking，tiedupthebundleandcontinuedpraisingthevalueofthepurchase.Whenitwaspaidforhewassuddenlysilent.Hebowedwithasuperiorair，and，holdingthedooropen，hewatchedhiscustomerdisappear，botharmsfilledwithbundlesandvainlytryingtoreachhishattobow.

M.Patissotreturnedhomeandcarefullystudiedthemap.Hewishedtotryonhisshoes，whichweremorelikeskatesthanshoes，owingtothespikes.Heslippedandfell，promisinghimselftobemorecarefulinthefuture.Thenhespreadoutallhispurchasesonachairandlookedatthemforalongtime.Hewenttosleepwiththisthought："Isn’titstrangethatIdidn’tthinkbeforeoftakinganexcursiontothecountry？"

DuringthewholeweekPatissotworkedwithoutambition.HewasdreamingoftheoutingwhichhehadplannedforthefollowingSunday，andhewasseizedbyasuddenlongingforthecountry，adesireofgrowingtenderovernature，thisthirstforrusticsceneswhichoverwhelmstheParisiansinspringtime.

Onlyonepersongavehimanyattention;itwasasilentoldcopyingclerknamedBoivin，nicknamedBoileau.Hehimselflivedinthecountryandhadalittlegardenwhichhecultivatedcarefully;hisneedsweresmall，andhewasperfectlyhappy，sotheysaid.Patissotwasnowabletounderstandhistastesandthesimilarityoftheiridealsmadethemimmediatelyfastfriends.OldmanBoivinsaidtohim：

"DoIlikefishing，monsieur？Why，it’sthedelightofmylife！"

ThenPatissotquestionedhimwithdeepinterest.Boivinnamedallthefishwhofrolickedunderthisdirtywater——andPatissotthoughthecouldseethem.Boivintoldaboutthedifferenthooks，baits，spotsandtimessuitableforeachkind.AndPatissotfelthimselfmorelikeafishermanthanBoivinhimself.TheydecidedthatthefollowingSundaytheywouldmeetfortheopeningoftheseasonfortheedificationofPatissot，whowasdelightedtohavefoundsuchanexperiencedinstructor.

FISHINGEXCURSION

Thedaybeforetheonewhenhewas，forthefirsttimeinhislife，tothrowahookintoariver，MonsieurPatissotbought，foreightycentimes，"HowtoBecomeaPerfectFisherman."Inthisworkhelearnedmanyusefulthings，buthewasespeciallyimpressedbythestyle，andheretainedthefollowingpassage：

"Inaword，ifyouwish，withoutbooks，withoutrules，tofishsuccessfully，totheleftortotheright，upordownstream，inthemasterlymannerthathaltsatnodifficulty，thenfishbefore，duringandafterastorm，whenthecloudsbreakandtheskyisstreakedwithlightning，whentheearthshakeswiththegrumblingthunder;itisthenthat，eitherthroughhungerorterror，allthefishforgettheirhabitsinaturbulentflight.

"Inthisconfusionfolloworneglectallfavorablesigns，andjustgoonfishing;youwillmarchtovictory！"

Inordertocatchfishofallsizes，heboughtthreewell—perfectedpoles，madetobeusedasacaneinthecity，which，ontheriver，couldbetransformedintoafishingrodbyasimplejerk.Heboughtsomenumberfifteenhooksforgudgeon，numbertwelveforbream，andwithhisnumbersevenheexpectedtofillhisbasketwithcarp.Heboughtnoearthwormsbecausehewassureoffindingthemeverywhere;buthelaidinaprovisionofsandworms.Hehadajarfullofthem，andintheeveninghewatchedthemwithinterest.Thehideouscreaturesswarmedintheirbathofbranastheydoinputridmeat.Patissotwishedtopracticebaitinghishook.Hetookuponewithdisgust，buthehadhardlyplacedthecurvedsteelpointagainstitwhenitsplitopen.

Twentytimesherepeatedthiswithoutsuccess，andhemighthavecontinuedallnighthadhenotfearedtoexhausthissupplyofvermin.

Heleftbythefirsttrain.Thestationwasfullofpeopleequippedwithfishinglines.Some，likePatissot’s，lookedlikesimplebamboocanes;

others，inonepiece，pointedtheirslenderendstotheskies.Theylookedlikeaforestofslendersticks，whichmingledandclashedlikeswordsorswayedlikemastsoveranoceanofbroad—brimmedstrawhats.

Whenthetrainstartedfishingrodscouldbeseenstickingoutofallthewindowsanddoors，givingtothetraintheappearanceofahuge，bristlycaterpillarwindingthroughthefields.

EverybodygotoffatCourbevoieandrushedforthestageforBezons.A

crowdoffishermencrowdedontopofthecoach，holdingtheirrodsintheirhands，givingthevehicletheappearanceofaporcupine.

AllalongtheroadmenweretravellinginthesamedirectionasthoughonapilgrimagetoanunknownJerusalem.Theywerecarryingthoselong，slendersticksresemblingthosecarriedbythefaithfulreturningfromPalestine.Atinboxonastrapwasfastenedtotheirbacks.Theywereinahurry.

AtBezonstheriverappeared.Peoplewerelinedalongbathbanks，meninfrockcoats，othersinducksuits，othersinblouses，women，childrenandevenyounggirlsofmarriageableage;allwerefishing.

PatissotstartedforthedamwherehisfriendBoivinwaswaitingforhim.

Thelattergreetedhimrathercoolly.Hehadjustmadetheacquaintanceofabig，fatmanofaboutfifty，whoseemedverystrongandwhoseskinwastanned.Allthreehiredabigboatandlayoffalmostunderthefallofthedam，wherethefisharemostplentiful.

Boivinwasimmediatelyready.Hebaitedhislineandthrewitout，andthensatmotionless，watchingthelittlefloatwithextraordinaryconcentration.Fromtimetotimehewouldjerkhislineoutofthewaterandcastitfartherout.Thefatgentlemanthrewouthiswell—baitedhooks，puthislinedownbesidehim，filledhispipe，litit，crossedhisarms，and，withoutanotherglanceatthecork，hewatch