Yvette

val a

s villa, leased by the Marquise Obardi, was halfway up this hill, just at the

es, a mass of verdure, and they could see a long stretch of the big river

s a sensation of pleasure. No breath of air stirred the branches, no shiver of wind ruffled the smooth clear surface of the Seine.

nd one seemed to absorb the serenity of the already sleeping ea

aiety filled their hearts, they felt that it would be so delightful to dine there in the countr

y themselves. The two women seemed entirely different persons from what they were

her: "What is the matter, Mademoiselle? I find you change

t know why. You see, I am capable of anything, according to the moment. There are days when I would like to kill people,-not animals, I would never kill animals,-but people, yes, and other days when I weep at a mere thing. A lot of different

suggested, without displaying and without restraining, her free chest, which was firm and already ripe. And her superb neck emerged from

are adorable this evening, Mam'zelle," said h

ade. I should take it seriously

a cincture of red carnations falling from her waist like a chain, and fastened at the hips, and a red rose in her dark hair, she carried in all her

e stroked his pointed beard, trimmed in the fashion of Henri I

tes. Then as they were servin

n nearer to each other when they are keeping still

ittle toward h

so sweet to think togethe

d for some seconds looking into each other's eyes. A sligh

being as good as that. Now, with whom could you be in love? Let us think together, if you will;

uch a thing? Why, the Prince has the air of a Russian in a wax-

. But you have noticed the V

Malvoisie, [Footnote: Preserved grapes and pears, malmsey,-a poor wine.] Argenteuil, for she gave everybody nicknames. And she would murmur to

ains the Chevalier Valreali whom the Mar

ps like a Magdalene. He goes to all the first-class fun

So the lightning will s

e is too strong. It would seem to me as if I we

only one of your adorers of whom we have not yet spoken. I left myself for th

scourage you. I don't love you-yet. You have a chance-perhaps. Persevere, Muscade, be devoted, ardent, submissive, full of li

ish all you demand afterward than be

artless air: "Af

hown me that you

loved you, and beli

t y

cade; enough o

river seemed changed to blood. The reflections from the horizon reddened houses, objects, and persons. The sca

hand upon Saval's hand; but the young girl made a motion and the Marquise withdrew her

was looking

we will take a walk on

lightful. We will go all

alone, M

the evening captured heart, body, and voice. There are peace

firmamental conflagration faded away, and the

stay long in this

dwelling on each word: "Y

pace; and very soon a shower of gnats fell upon the tablecloth-the tiny gnats which immolate themselves by passing over the gl

ir faces and hands tickled by the countless swarm of these tiny insects. They were continually compelled to

his handkerchief stretched out over her head like a roof. But the Marquise, disgusted, became nervous, a

l go to t

tone: "Don't be late, above all thin

ehind them, the Marquise and Saval speaking very rapidly in low tones. All was dark, with a thick, inky darkness. But

ank, and numerous nightingales were uttering th

here are they?" And she called out: "Mamma!" No voice replied. The young gi

e gone back. Your mother was cold

keeper and fisherman. At their call a man came out of the house, and th

lly calmed down after they had passed. They touched the other shore and disembarked beneath the great trees. A cool freshness of damp earth permeated the a

y gently slipped his hand around h

thinking abo

ing at all. I

u don't

great deal; only leave me alone. It is too

pushes, to extricate herself, and through her soft fla

ett

l, w

love

not in earn

have loved you

e arm crushed between their bodies. They walked with difficulty, trammeled by

. He was perplexed, thinking what he ought to do, wondering if she consented or did not understand, a

Speak!

her on the cheek. She gave a little s

rd. Are you going

not seeing her too angry, he applied his lips to the beginning of her neck,

d placing his other hand on her shoulder, he compelled her to turn her he

free from his grasp, she disappeared into the darkness with a gr

her suppleness and her disappearance, then

the shadows, looking in the underbrush for the white spot h

vette! Mam'z

kings on the shores. Then he wandered from thicket to thicket, going where the banks were steep and bushy and returning to places where they were flat and bare as a

nswer. It is ridiculous! Come, answ

he island for two hours. Then he thought that perhaps she had gone home; and he went back very

e Mademoiselle Yvette came home? I left her at th

yes, Monsieur, Mademoiselle

eyes. That stolen kiss had stirred him to the soul. He kept wondering

inexplicable. He heard one o'clock strike, then two. He could not sleep at all. He was warm, he felt his heart beat and his temples throb, and he rose to open the window. A breath of fresh air c

himself. "It must be Saval,"

you,

rejoining his friend who was smoking astride an iron

Servigny pressed his hand: "My compliments, my dear

u m

nd her mother do not

happened

attempts and their fa

anything, and yet you know nothing about her. A woman who has lived and loved, who knows life, can be quickly understood. But when it

o marriage. Remember those other illustrious examples. It was just by this same process that

simpleton nor an emperor. A man must be either one or the ot

a b

e a walk alon

adl

of an animal only, probably a bird, was making somewhere a kind of sawing sound, feeble, monotonous, and regular as a machine. Servigny, who had moments of poetry, and of philosophy too, suddenly remarked: "Now this girl completely puzzles me. In arithmetic, one and one make two. In love one and one ought to make on

ul hidden behind two eyes that look at you, clear as water, transparent as if there were nothing beneath a soul which talks to you by a beloved mouth, which seems your very own, so greatly do you desire

are little for the contents, but much for the vessel." And Servigny replie

ghtening. The cocks began to crow in the poultry-yards. A bird twitter

to go back,"

ered his room, he saw the horizon

bed and listened, but heard nothing further. Then suddenly there was a crackling against the blinds, like falling hail. He jumped from the bed, ran to the window, opened it, and saw Yvett

e been doing all night to make you wake so late? H

ll in the eyes, still overwhelmed with fatigue, and s

he answered. "Just time to splash my

have a great plan to unfold to you, a plot we are go

took his arm in a familiar and friendly way, with a frank and gay manner, as if

t. I want to see it. Mamma says that decent women cannot go to the place. Now it is all the same to me whether pe

odor enveloped her. It was not one of those heavy perfumes of her mother, but a discreet breath in

n? He puzzled over this, and as he was speaking very close to her, he received f

ecognize was perhaps only evoked by her charming eyes, and was mer

always feels the heat very much. We will leave her with your friend, and you shall take me. They will

slumberous, shining river. A slight heat-mist rose from it, a sort of haze of eva

istles could be heard, those of the trains which every Sunday poured the citizens of Paris int

umanity. The heat seemed thick, and paralyzed both mind and body. The sluggish words would not leave the lips, and all motion seemed laborious, as if the air had become a

n the forest, it would be deli

stless air: "Are you mad? Does

will leave the Baron to keep you company. Muscade and

ervigny she asked: "

ice, Mam'zell

ise shrugged her shoulders with a si

ed it softly. Yvette and Servigny started. They went along the river, crossed the bridge and went on to the is

ket and smilingly said: "Muscade, you are going

fright. "I, Mam'zelle? I

no objections; you are a fine suitor, you! Al

logy. A history of ants by an English author. And as he remained inert, beli

or just a simple

y on ants and I thought that it would be interesting to learn about the life of the

esting upon the ground, her head between her hands, her

ts, their organization into societies, their vast communities, the houses and roads that they construct, their custom of domesticating animals, and s

oice, stopping from time to ti

te and contented attention to all the wonderful details of the life of these frail creatures: their subterranean homes; the manner in which they seize, shut up, and feed plant-lice to drink the sweet milk which they secrete, as we keep cows in o

r the poor insect which was so tiny and so intelligent, Yvette made it climb on

insect which escaped her and began to crawl over her face. Then she uttered a piercing cry, as if she had been threatened by a terrible danger, and with frantic gestures tried to

"That is better than a novel. No

and shaded with great trees. Couples were strolling beneath th

ipped back, and a jaded look. There were tradesmen with their families, the women dressed in their best and the children flocking like little chicks a

n and women drinking at tables, or else standing up, shouting, singing, bandying words, dancing,

hers were dancing madly with young fellows half clad, dressed like jockeys, in line

lungs, feeling as it were, the necessity of making a noise, a brutal need of having their ears and brains filled with uproa

r bronzed skin. The women in the boats, in blue or red flannel skirts, with umbrellas, red or blue, opened over their heads and gleaming under th

l against all the other boats, bringing the curses of their oarsmen down upon his head, and disappearing in dis

he midst of this noisy mob. She seemed to enjoy the crowdin

said. "What pretty hair she has!

tanding on the tables, kept time with their feet; others threw glasses, and the musician, seeming to go mad, struck the ivory keys with great bangs; swaying his whole body and swinging h

ur limbs, after carefully placing his great hat on his stomach. A joker following them intoned the "De Profundis," and

d by the movement and the noise. The young men gazed at her, crowded against her, seeming to dev

ollowed by the yelling crowd. But suddenly, they turned toward the shore, stopped short as they reached

nd spluttered, and though sticking in the mud managed to get to the shore. His hat which floated down the str

ace. A sort of instinct revolted in him, that instinct of the proper, which a well-born man always preserves even when he casts

time he meets them. He no longer distinguished her from the russet-haired, hoarse-voiced creatures who brushed against them. Th

athing," she said. "We'll g

service,"

first, and stood on the bank waiting for him, smiling on everyone who

delight, raising herself at each stroke as if she were going to spring from the water. He

o the blue sky. He observed, thus stretched out on the surface of the river, the undulating lines of her form, her firm

or again to make sport of him. And he began to long for her with a passionate ardor and

fine head,

baffled lover. Then yielding brusquely to a half felt desire for

his sort of l

n artless air: "

game of me. You know w

t, on my wo

his comedy! Will y

t unders

as all that; besides

at? I have

I love

ou

es

nons

wear

prov

is all

at

prov

l, d

not say so

not ask a

absu

to me to whom you shoul

hom,

mamma, of

r. "To your mother. N

ry grave, and looking him

e enough to marry me, speak to mamma f

him, and angrily replied: "Mam'zelle, y

th her soft, clear eyes. S

nderstand

ly with somewhat of il

e does not fit you at all, believe me. You know perfectly well that there can be no question of marriage between us, but merely of love. I have told

y blushed up to the roots of her hair. Her whole face grew purple from her neck to her ears, which became almost violet, and without answering a word she fled toward the shore, swimming with all he

er what he should say to her, and wondering whether he ought to excuse himself or persevere

h around the lawn. As she observed Servigny, she said, with tha

gone to lie down. She was as red as a poppy, the poor child, and she has a frightful headache. You must have

in, and she begged that they would leave her undisturbed. The two young men left by the ten o'clock train, promising to return the following Thursday, and the Marquise sea

crept over her like a disease. These passions took possession of her suddenly, penetrated her entire being, maddened

eer, acting instinctively, with inborn cleverness, accepting money and kisses, naturally, without distinguishing between them, employing her extra

the delicious moments of her life, for she loved with all her soul. She cast herself upon love as a person throws himself into the river to drown himself, and let herself be carried away, ready to die, if need be, intoxicated, maddened, infin

im, lulled by his face and his memory, in the calm exalta

daytime dress, but pale, with eyes glittering, as sometimes is the case after s

speak to yo

a person is proud of a fortune, too pretty still herself to become jealous, too indifferent to plan the scheme

my child," she sa

ead the depths of her soul and to seize all

ething strange h

can

igny has told me

ted a moment, and, as Yvette

l you that? Exp

er's feet, in a coaxing attitude common

me to ma

sudden gesture of s

Why! you

her's face, watching her thoughts and her

should not Monsieur d

, embarrasse

and. Monsieur de Servigny is too rich for you, and too much of a Parisian to marr

have such ideas. Servigny is a man-about-town and an egotist. He will never marry anyone bu

aning, was silent for a moment, then continu

rned what she sought to find out, ans

with a calm step. As she reached the door, the Ma

t all. It was that wh

e with him for some time from now, and be very sure that he will never m

ich might annoy or sadden her. Never had she been willing to ask herself the question.-What would become of Yvette? It would be soon enough to think about the difficulties when they arrived. She well knew, f

g too much occupied with herself to make any

ead a gay life. Why not? But the Marquise had never dar

be answered, forcing her to take an attitude in an affair, so delicate, so dangerous in every respect,

ervigny's intentions, for she knew men by experience, and especially men of that set. So at the first w

ight make great mistakes. Would anyone have believed that this big girl had remained so artless, so ill informed, so guileless? And the Marquise, greatly perplexed and already wearied with h

ding to circumstances. If necessary, I will speak

care without having had to make a decision, she resumed her dreams of the handsome Saval, and turning toward that misty light which hovers over Paris, she threw kisses with both han

you, I l