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sentence； spring up from her seat； and march off so rapidly and
so strangely； that it would； sometimes； put me to my wits' end to
try and discover whether I had done or said anything to displease
or offend her。
〃I finally came to the conclusion that this arose from her early
habits and training； somewhat modified； no doubt； in honor of me；
since the first days of our acquaintanceship。
〃When she returned to the farm； after walking for hours on the
wind…beaten coast； her long curled hair would be shaken out and
hanging loose； as though it had broken away from its bearings。 It
was seldom that this gave her any concern； though sometimes she
looked as though she had been dining sans ceremonie； her locks
having become disheveled by the breezes。
〃She would then go up to her room in order to adjust what I
called her glass lamps。 When I would say to her； in familiar
gallantry； which； however； always offended her：
〃 'You are as beautiful as a planet to…day； Miss Harriet；' a
little blood would immediately mount into her cheeks； the blood
of a young maiden； the blood of sweet fifteen。
〃Then she would become abruptly savage and cease coming to watch
me paint。 But I always thought：
〃 'This is only a fit of temper she is passing through。'
〃But it did not always pass away。 When I spoke to her sometimes；
she would answer me； either with an air of affected indifference；
or in sullen anger； and she became by turns rude； impatient； and
nervous。 For a time I never saw her except at meals； and we spoke
but little。 I concluded； at length； that I must have offended her
in something： and； accordingly； I said to her one evening：
〃 'Miss Harriet； why is it that you do not act toward me as
formerly？ What have I done to displease you？ You are causing me
much pain！'
〃She responded； in an angry tone； in a manner altogether sui
generis：
〃 'I am always with you the same as formerly。 It is not true； not
true；' and she ran upstairs and shut herself up in her room。
〃At times she would look upon me with strange eyes。 Since that
time I have often said to myself that those condemned to death
must look thus when informed that their last day has come。 In her
eye there lurked a species of folly； a folly at once mysterious
and violenteven more； a fever； an exasperated desire；
impatient； at once incapable of being realized and unrealizable！
〃Nay； it seemed to me that there was also going on within her a
combat； in which her heart struggled against an unknown force
that she wished to overcomeperhaps； even； something else。 But
what could I know？ What could I know？
III。
〃This was indeed a singular revelation。
〃For some time I had commenced to work； as soon as daylight
appeared； on a picture； the subject of which was as follows：
〃A deep ravine； steep banks dominated by two declivities； lined
with brambles and long rows of trees； hidden； drowned in milky
vapor； clad in that misty robe which sometimes floats over
valleys at break of day。 At the extreme end of that thick and
transparent fog； you see coming； or rather already come； a human
couple； a stripling and a maiden embraced； interlaced； she； with
head leaning on him； he； inclined toward hers and lip to lip。
〃A ray of the sun； glistening through the branches； has traversed
the fog of dawn and illuminated it with a rosy reflection； just
behind the rustic lovers； whose vague shadows are reflected on it
in clear silver。 It was well done； yes； indeed； well done。
〃I was working on the declivity which led to the Val d'Etretat。
This particular morning； I had； by chance； the sort of floating
vapor which was necessary for my purpose。 Suddenly； an object
appeared in front of me； a kind of phantom； it was Miss Harriet。
On seeing me； she took to flight。 But I called after her saying：
'Come here； come here； Mademoiselle； I have a nice little picture
for you。'
〃She came forward； though with seeming reluctance。 I handed her
my sketch。 She said nothing； but stood for a long time
motionless； looking at it。 Suddenly she burst into tears。 She
wept spasmodically； like men who have been struggling hard
against shedding tears； but who can do so no longer； and abandon
themselves to grief； though unwillingly。 I got up； trembling；
moved myself by the sight of a sorrow I did not comprehend； and I
took her by the hand with a gesture of brusque affection； a true
French impulse which impels one quicker than one thinks。
〃She let her hands rest in mine for a few seconds； and I felt
them quiver； as if her whole nervous system was twisting and
turning。 Then she withdrew her hands abruptly； or； rather； tore
them out of mine。
〃I recognized that shiver as soon as I had felt it： I was
deceived in nothing。 Ah！ the love shudder of a woman； whether she
is fifteen or fifty years of age； whether she is one of the
people or one of the monde； goes so straight to my heart that I
never had any difficulty in understanding it！
〃Her whole frail being trembled； vibrated； yielded。 I knew it。
She walked away before I had time to say a word； leaving me as
surprised as if I had witnessed a miracle； and as troubled as if
I had committed a crime。
〃I did not go in to breakfast。 I took a walk on the banks of the
Falaise； feeling that I could just as soon weep as laugh； looking
on the adventure as both comic and deplorable； and my position as
ridiculous； fain to believe that I had lost my head。
〃I asked myself what I ought to do。 I debated whether I ought not
to take my leave of the place and almost immediately my
resolution was formed。
〃Somewhat sad and perplexed； I wandered about until dinner time；
and entered the farmhouse just when the soup had been served up。
〃I sat down at the table； as usual。 Miss Harriet was there；
munching away solemnly； without speaking to anyone； without even
lifting her eyes。 She wore； however； her usual expression； both
of countenance and manner。
〃I waited； patiently； till the meal had been finished。 Then；
turning toward the landlady； I said： 'Madame Lecacheur； it will
not be long now before I shall have to take my leave of you。'
〃The good woman； at once surprised and troubled； replied in a
quivering voice： 'My dear sir； what is it I have just heard you
say？ Are you going to leave us； after I have become so much
accustomed to you？'
〃I looked at Miss Harriet from the corner of my eye。 Her
countenance did not change in the least； but the under…servant
came toward me with eyes wide open。 She was a fat girl； of about
eighteen years of age； rosy； fresh； strong as a horse； yet
possessing a rare attribute in one in her positionshe was very
neat and clean。 I had kissed her at odd times； in out of the way
corners； in the manner of a mountain guide； nothing more。
〃The dinner being over； I went to smoke my pipe under the
apple…trees； walking up and down at my ease； from one end of the
court to the other。 All the reflections which I had made during
the day； the strange discovery of the morning； that grotesque and
passionate attachment for me； the recollections which that
revelation had suddenly called up； recollections at once charming
and perplexing； perhaps； also； that look which the s