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vibrating man grows tired as soon as he has comprehended the
stupid reality of a common…place life； unless indeed； he becomes
so brutalized as to be callous to externals。
What would he be like when I met him again？ Still lively； witty；
light…hearted； and enthusiastic； or in a state of mental torpor
through provincial life？ A man can change a great deal in the
course of fifteen years！
The train stopped at a small station； and as I got out of the
carriage； a stout； a very stout man with red cheeks and a big
stomach rushed up to me with open arms； exclaiming： 〃George！〃
I embraced him； but I had not recognized him； and then I said； in
astonishment： 〃By Jove！ You have not grown thin！〃
And he replied with a laugh： 〃What did you expect？ Good living； a
good table； and good nights！ Eating and sleeping； that is my
existence！〃
I looked at him closely； trying to find the features I held so
dear in that broad face。 His eyes alone had not altered； but I no
longer saw the same looks in them； and I said to myself： 〃If
looks be the reflection of the mind； the thoughts in that head
are not what they used to bethose thoughts which I knew so
well。〃
Yet his eyes were bright； full of pleasure and friendship； but
they had not that clear； intelligent expression which tells
better than do words the value of the mind。 Suddenly he said to
me：
〃Here are my two eldest children。〃 A girl of fourteen； who was
almost a woman； and a boy of thirteen； in the dress of a pupil
from a lycee； came forward in a hesitating and awkward manner；
and I said in a low voice： 〃Are they yours？〃
〃Of course they are；〃 he replied laughing。
〃How many have you？〃
〃Five！ There are three more indoors。〃
He said that in a proud； self…satisfied； almost triumphant
manner； and I felt profound pity； mingled with a feeling of vague
contempt for this vainglorious and simple reproducer of his
species； who spent his nights in his country house in uxorious
pleasures。
I got into a carriage； which he drove himself； and we set off
through the town； a dull； sleepy； gloomy town where nothing was
moving in the streets save a few dogs and two or three
maidservants。 Here and there a shopkeeper standing at his door
took off his hat； and Simon returned the salute and told me the
man's nameno doubt to show me that he knew all the inhabitants
personally。 The thought struck me that he was thinking of
becoming a candidate for the Chamber of Deputies； that dream of
all who have buried themselves in the provinces。
We were soon out of the town； the carriage turned into a garden
which had some pretensions to a park； and stopped in front of a
turreted house； which tried to pass for a chateau。
〃That is my den；〃 Simon said； so that he might be complimented on
it； and I replied that it was delightful。
A lady appeared on the steps； dressed up for a visitor； her hair
done for a visitor； and with phrases ready prepared for a
visitor。 She was no longer the light…haired； insipid girl I had
seen in church fifteen years previously； but a stout lady in
curls and flounces； one of those ladies of uncertain age； without
intellect； without any of those things which constitute a woman。
In short she was a mother； a stout； commonplace mother； a human
layer and brood mare； a machine of flesh which procreates；
without mental care save for her children and her housekeeping
book。
She welcomed me； and I went into the hall； where three children；
ranged according to their height； were ranked for review； like
firemen before a mayor。 〃Ah！ ah！ so there are the others？〃 said
I。 And Simon； who was radiant with pleasure； named them： 〃Jean；
Sophie； and Gontran。〃
The door of the drawing…room was open。 I went in； and in the
depths of an easy…chair I saw something trembling； a man； an old；
paralyzed man。 Madame Radevin came forward and said： 〃This is my
grandfather； Monsieur； he is eighty…seven。〃 And then she shouted
into the shaking old man's ears： 〃This is a friend of Simon's；
grandpapa。〃
The old gentleman tried to say 〃Good day〃 to me； and he muttered：
〃Oua； oua； oua；〃 and waved his hand。
I took a seat saying： 〃You are very kind； Monsieur。〃
Simon had just come in； and he said with a laugh： 〃So！ You have
made grandpapa's acquaintance。 He is priceless； is that old man。
He is the delight of the children； and he is so greedy that he
almost kills himself at every meal。 You have no idea what he
would eat if he were allowed to do as he pleased。 But you will
see； you will see。 He looks all the sweets over as if they were
so many girls。 You have never seen anything funnier； you will see
it presently。〃
I was then shown to my room to change my dress for dinner； and
hearing a great clatter behind me on the stairs； I turned round
and saw that all the children were following me behind their
fatherto do me honor； no doubt。
My windows looked out on to a plain； a bare； interminable plain；
an ocean of grass； of wheat； and of oats； without a clump of
trees or any rising ground； a striking and melancholy picture of
the life which they must be leading in that house。
A bell rang； it was for dinner； and so I went downstairs。 Madame
Radevin took my arm in a ceremonious manner； and we went into the
dining…room。 A footman wheeled in the old man's arm…chair； who
gave a greedy and curious look at the dessert； as with difficulty
he turned his shaking head from one dish to the other。
Simon rubbed his hands； saying： 〃You will be amused。〃 All the
children understood that I was going to be indulged with the
sight of their greedy grandfather and they began to laugh
accordingly； while their mother merely smiled and shrugged her
shoulders。 Simon； making a speaking trumpet of his hands； shouted
at the old man： 〃This evening there is sweet rice…cream；〃 and the
wrinkled face of the grandfather brightened； he trembled
violently all over； showing that he had understood and was very
pleased。 The dinner began。
〃Just look！〃 Simon whispered。 The grandfather did not like the
soup； and refused to eat it； but he was made to； on account of
his health。 The footman forced the spoon into his mouth； while
the old man blew energetically； so as not to swallow the soup；
which was thus scattered like a stream of water on to the table
and over his neighbors。 The children shook with delight at the
spectacle； while their father； who was also amused； said： 〃Isn't
the old man funny？〃
During the whole meal they were all taken up solely with him。
With his eyes he devoured the dishes which were put on the table；
and with trembling hands tried to seize them and pull them to
him。 They put them almost within his reach to see his useless
efforts。 his trembling clutches at them； the piteous appeal of
his whole nature； of his eyes； of his mouth； and of his nose as
he smelled them。 He slobbered on to his table napkin with
eagerness； while uttering inarticulate grunts； and the whole
family was highly amused at this horrible and grotesque scene。
Then they put a tiny morsel on to his plate； which he ate with
feverish gluttony； in order to get something more as soon as
possible。 When the rice…cream was brought in； he nearly had a
fit； and groaned