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〃 'Oh！ I love nature so much。'
〃I offered her some bread； some water； some wine。 She now
accepted these with the vacant smile of a mummy。 I then began to
converse with her about the scenery。
〃After the meal； we rose from the table together and walked
leisurely across the court； then； attracted by the fiery glow
which the setting sun cast over the surface of the sea； I opened
the outside gate which faced in the direction of the Falaise； and
we walked on side by side； as satisfied as any two persons could
be who have just learned to understand and penetrate each other's
motives and feelings。
〃It was a misty； relaxing evening； one of those enjoyable
evenings which impart happiness to mind and body alike。 All is
joy； all is charm。 The luscious and balmy air； loaded with the
perfumes of herbs； with the perfumes of grass…wrack； with the
odor of the wild flowers； caresses the soul with a penetrating
sweetness。 We were going to the brink of the abyss which
overlooked the vast sea and rolled past us at the distance of
less than a hundred meters。
〃We drank with open mouth and expanded chest； that fresh breeze
from the ocean which glides slowly over the skin； salted as it is
by long contact with the waves。
〃Wrapped up in her square shawl； inspired by the balmy air and
with teeth firmly set； the English…woman gazed fixedly at the
great sun…ball； as it descended toward the sea。 Soon its rim
touched the waters； just in rear of a ship which had appeared on
the horizon； until； by degrees； it was swallowed up by the ocean。
We watched it plunge； diminish； and finally disappear。
〃Miss Harriet contemplated with passionate regard the last
glimmer of the flaming orb of day。
〃She muttered： 'Oh！ I loveI love' I saw a tear start in her
eye。 She continued： 'I wish I were a little bird； so that I could
mount up into the firmament。'
〃She remained standing as I had often before seen her； perched on
the river bank； her face as red as her flaming shawl。 I should
have liked to have sketched her in my album。 It would have been
an ecstatic caricature。 I turned my face away from her so as to
be able to laugh。
〃I then spoke to her of painting； as I would have done to a
fellow…artist； using the technical terms common among the
devotees of the profession。 She listened attentively to me；
eagerly seeking to divine the sense of the obscure words； so as
to penetrate my thoughts。 From time to time； she would exclaim：
'Oh！ I understand； I understand。 This is very interesting。' We
returned home。
〃The next day； on seeing me； she approached me eagerly； holding
out her hand； and we became firm friends immediately。
〃She was a brave creature； with an elastic sort of a soul； which
became enthusiastic at a bound。 She lacked equilibrium； like all
women who are spinsters at the age of fifty。 She seemed to be
pickled in vinegary innocence； though her heart still retained
something of youth and of girlish effervescence。 She loved both
nature and animals with a fervent ardor； a love like old wine；
mellow through age； with a sensual love that she had never
bestowed on men。
〃One thing is certain： a mare roaming in a meadow with a foal at
its side； a bird's nest full of young ones； squeaking； with their
open mouths and enormous heads； made her quiver with the most
violent emotion。
〃Poor solitary beings！ Sad wanderers from table d'hote to table
d'hote； poor beings； ridiculous and lamentable； I love you ever
since I became acquainted with Miss Harriet！
〃I soon discovered that she had something she would like to tell
me； but dared not； and I was amused at her timidity。 When I
started out in the morning with my box on my back； she would
accompany me as far as the end of the village； silent； but
evidently struggling inwardly to find words with which to begin a
conversation。 Then she would leave me abruptly； and； with jaunty
step； walk away quickly。
〃One day； however； she plucked up courage：
〃 'I would like to see how you paint pictures？ Will you show me？
I have been very curious。'
〃And she colored up as though she had given utterance to words
extremely audacious。
〃I conducted her to the bottom of the Petit…Val； where I had
commenced a large picture。
〃She remained standing near me； following all my gestures with
concentrated attention。 Then； suddenly； fearing； perhaps； that
she was disturbing me； she said to me： 'Thank you；' and walked
away。
〃But in a short time she became more familiar； and accompanied me
every day； her countenance exhibiting visible pleasure。 She
carried her folding stool under her arm； would not consent to my
carrying it； and she sat always by my side。 She would remain
there for hours immovable and mute； following with her eye the
point of my brush in its every movement。 When I would obtain； by
a large splatch of color spread on with a knife； a striking and
unexpected effect； she would； in spite of herself； give vent to a
half…suppressed 'Oh！' of astonishment； of joy； of admiration。 She
had the most tender respect for my canvases； an almost religious
respect for that human reproduction of a part of nature's work
divine。 My studies appeared to her to be pictures of sanctity；
and sometimes she spoke to me of God； with the idea of converting
me。
〃Oh！ He was a queer good…natured being； this God of hers。 He was
a sort of village philosopher without any great resources； and
without great power； for she always figured him to herself as a
being quivering over injustices committed under his eyes； and
helpless to prevent them。
〃She was； however； on excellent terms with him； affecting even to
be the confidant of his secrets and of his whims。 She said：
〃 'God wills； or God does not will；' just like a sergeant
announcing to a recruit： 'The colonel has commanded。'
〃At the bottom of her heart she deplored my ignorance of the
intentions of the Eternal； which she strove； nay； felt herself
compelled； to impart to me。
〃Almost every day； I found in my pockets； in my hat when I lifted
it from the ground； in my box of colors； in my polished shoes；
standing in the mornings in front of my door； those little pious
brochures； which she； no doubt； received directly from Paradise。
〃I treated her as one would an old friend； with unaffected
cordiality。 But I soon perceived that she had changed somewhat in
her manner； but； for a while； I paid little attention to it。
〃When I walked about； whether to the bottom of the valley； or
through some country lanes； I would see her suddenly appear； as
though she were returning from a rapid walk。 She would then sit
down abruptly； out of breath； as though she had been running or
overcome by some profound emotion。 Her face would be red； that
English red which is denied to the people of all other countries；
then； without any reason； she would grow pale； become the color
of the ground； and seem ready to faint away。 Gradually； however；
I would see her regain her ordinary color； whereupon she would
begin to speak。
〃Then； without warning； she would break off in the middle of a
sentence； spring up from her seat； and march off so rapidly and
so strangely； that it would； sometimes； put me to my wits