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roast the blood…pudding at the end of a bayonet。
When they had breakfasted； eaten their bread to the last crumb；
and drunk their wine to the last drop； they remained seated side
by side upon the grass； saying nothing； their eyes on the
distance； their eyelids drooping； their fingers crossed as at
mass； their red legs stretched out beside the poppies of the
field。 And the leather of their helmets and the brass of their
buttons glittered in the ardent sun； making the larks； which sang
and hovered above their heads； cease in mid…song。
Toward noon they began to turn their eyes from time to time in
the direction of the village of Bezons； because the girl with the
cow was coming。 She passed by them every Sunday on her way to
milk and change the pasture of her cowthe only cow in this
district which ever went out of the stable to grass。 It was
pastured in a narrow field along the edge of the wood a little
farther on。
They soon perceived the girl； the only human being within vision；
and were gladdened by the brilliant reflections thrown off by the
tin milk…pail under the rays of the sun。 They never talked about
her。 They were simply glad to see her； without understanding why。
She was a big strong wench with red hair； burned by the heat of
sunny days； a sturdy product of the environs of Paris。
Once； finding them seated in the same place； she said：
〃Good morning。 You two are always here； aren't you？〃
Luc le Ganidec； the bolder； stammered：
〃Yes； we come to rest。〃
That was all。 But the next Sunday she laughed on seeing them；
laughed with a protecting benevolence and a feminine keenness
which knew well enough that they were bashful。 And she asked：
〃What are you doing there？ Are you trying to see the grass grow？〃
Luc was cheered up by this； and smiled likewise： 〃Maybe we are。〃
〃That's pretty slow work；〃 said she。
He answered； still laughing： 〃Well； yes； it is。〃
She went on。 But coming back with a milk…pail full of milk； she
stopped again before them； and said：
〃Would you like a little？ It will taste like home。〃
With the instinctive feeling that they were of the same peasant
race as she； being herself perhaps also far away from home； she
had divined and touched the spot。
They were both touched。 Then with some difficulty； she managed to
make a little milk run into the neck of the glass bottle in which
they carried their wine。 And Luc drank first； with little
swallows； stopping every minute to see whether he had drunk more
than his half。 Then he handed the bottle to Jean。
She stood upright before them； her hands on her hips； her pail on
the ground at her feet； glad at the pleasure which she had given。
Then she departed； shouting： 〃Allons； adieu！ Till next Sunday！〃
And as long as they could see her at all； they followed with
their eyes her tall silhouette； which faded； growing smaller and
smaller； seeming to sink into the verdure of the fields。
When they were leaving the barracks the week after； Jean said to
Luc：
〃Oughtn't we to buy her something good？〃
They were in great embarrassment before the problem of the choice
of a delicacy for the girl with the cow。 Luc was of the opinion
that a little tripe would be the best； but Jean preferred some
berlingots because he was fond of sweets。 His choice fairly made
him enthusiastic； and they bought at a grocer's two sous' worth
of white and red candies。
They ate their breakfast more rapidly than usual； being nervous
with expectation。
Jean saw her first。 〃There she is！〃 he cried。 Luc added： 〃Yes；
there she is。〃
While yet some distance off she laughed at seeing them。 Then she
cried：
〃Is everything going as you like it？〃
And in unison they asked：
〃Are you getting on all right？〃
Then she conversed； talked to them of simple things in which they
felt an interestof the weather； of the crops； and of her
master。
They were afraid to offer her the candies； which were slowly
melting away in Jean's pocket。
At last Luc grew bold； and murmured：
〃We have brought you something。〃
She demanded； 〃What is it？ Tell me！〃
Then Jean； blushing up to his ears； managed to get at the little
paper cornucopia； and held it out。
She began to eat the little bonbons； rolling them from one cheek
to the other where they made little round lumps。 The two
soldiers； seated before her； gazed at her with emotion and
delight。
Then she went to milk her cow； and once more gave them some milk
on coming back。
They thought of her all the week； several times they even spoke
of her。 The next Sunday she sat down with them for a little
longer talk； and all three； seated side by side； their eyes lost
in the distance； clasping their knees with their hands； told the
small doings； the minute details of life in the villages where
they had been born； while over there the cow； seeing that the
milkmaid had stopped on her way； stretched out toward her its
heavy head with its dripping nostrils； and gave a long low to
call her。
Soon the girl consented to eat a bit of bread with them and drink
a mouthful of wine。 She often brought them plums in her pocket；
for the season of plums had come。 Her presence sharpened the wits
of the two little Breton soldiers； and they chattered like two
birds。
But； one Tuesday； Luc le Ganidec asked for leavea thing which
had never happened beforeand he did not return until ten
o'clock at night。 Jean racked his brains uneasily for a reason
for his comrade's going out in this way。
The next Thursday Luc； having borrowed ten sous from his
bedfellow； again asked and obtained permission to leave the
barracks for several hours。 When he set off with Jean on their
Sunday walk his manner was very queer； quite restless； and quite
changed。 Kerderen did not understand； but he vaguely suspected
something without divining what it could be。
They did not say a word to one another until they reached their
usual halting…place； where； from their constant sitting in the
same spot the grass was quite worn away。 They ate their breakfast
slowly。 Neither of them felt hungry。
Before long the girl appeared。 As on every Sunday； they watched
her coming。 When she was quite near； Luc rose and made two steps
forward。 She put her milk…pail on the ground and kissed him。 She
kissed him passionately； throwing her arms about his neck；
without noticing Jean； without remembering that he was there；
without even seeing him。
And he sat there desperate； poor Jean； so desperate that he did
not understand； his soul quite overwhelmed； his heart bursting；
but not yet understanding himself。 Then the girl seated herself
beside Luc； and they began to chatter。
Jean did not look at them。 He now divined why his comrade had
gone out twice during the week； and he felt within him a burning
grief； a kind of wound； that sense of rending which is caused by
treason。
Luc and the girl went off together to change the position of the
cow。 Jean followed them with his eyes。 He saw them departing side
by side。 The red breeches of his comrade made a bright spot on
the road。 It was Luc who picked up the mallet and hammered down
the stake to which they tied the beast。
The girl stooped to mi