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happiness of possessing her splendid beauty； the sweetness of her
kisses； the pink and the white of her demonlike soul all to
myself； if only for a few months！
〃It makes you laugh； I know； to think that I should have been
caught like thatI who give such good； prudent advice to my
friendsI who fear love as I do those quicksands and shoals
which appear at low tide and in which one may be swallowed up and
disappear！
〃But who can answer for himself； who can defend himself against
such a danger； as the magnetic attraction that inheres in such a
woman？ Nevertheless； I got cured and perfectly cured； and that
quite accidentally。 This is how the enchantment； which was
apparently so infrangible； was broken。
〃On the first night of a play； I was sitting in the stalls close
to Lucy； whose mother had accompanied her； as usual。 They
occupied the front of a box； side by side。 From some
unsurmountable attraction； I never ceased looking at the woman
whom I loved with all the force of my being。 I feasted my eyes on
her beauty； I saw nobody except her in the theater； and did not
listen to the piece that was being performed on the stage。
〃Suddenly； however； I felt as if I had received a blow from a
dagger in my heart； and I had an insane hallucination。 Lucy had
moved； and her pretty head was in profile； in the same attitude
and with the same lines as her mother。 I do not know what shadow
or what play of light had hardened and altered the color of her
delicate features； effacing their ideal prettiness； but the more
I looked at them both； at the one who was young and the one who
was old； the greater the distressing resemblance became。
〃I saw Lucy growing older and older； striving against those
accumulating years which bring wrinkles in the face； produce a
double chin and crow's…feet； and spoil the mouth。 THEY ALMOST
LOOKED LIKE TWINS。
〃I suffered so； that I thought I should go mad。 Yet in spite of
myself； instead of shaking off this feeling and making my escape
out of the theater； far away into the noise and life of the
boulevards； I persisted in looking at the other； at the old one；
in examining her； in judging her； in dissecting her with my eyes。
I got excited over her flabby cheeks； over those ridiculous
dimples； that were half filled up； over that treble chin； that
dyed hair； those lusterless eyes； and that nose； which was a
caricature of Lucy's beautiful； attractive little nose。
〃I had a prescience of the future。 I loved her； and I should love
her more and more every day； that little sorceress who had so
despotically and so quickly conquered me。 I should not allow any
participation or any intrigue from the day she gave herself to
me； and once intimately connected； who could tell whether； just
as I was defending myself against it most； the legitimate
terminationmarriagemight not come？
〃Why not give one's name to a woman whom one loves； and whom one
trusts？ The reason was that I should be tied to a disfigured；
ugly creature； with whom I should not venture to be seen in
public。 My friends would leer at her with laughter in their eyes；
and with pity in their hearts for the man who was accompanying
those remains。
〃And so； as soon as the curtain had fallen； without saying good
day or good evening； I had myself driven to the Moulin Rouge。
* * * * * * *
〃Well；〃 Florise d'Anglet exclaimed； 〃I shall never take mamma to
the theater with me again； for the men are really going crazy！〃
A COUNTRY EXCURSION
For five months they had been talking of going to lunch at some
country restaurant in the neighborhood of Paris； on Madame
Dufour's birthday； and as they were looking forward very
impatiently to the outing； they had risen very early that
morning。 Monsieur Dufour had borrowed the milkman's tilted cart；
and drove himself。 It was a very neat； two wheeled conveyance；
with a hood； and in it Madame Dufour； resplendent in a wonderful；
sherry…colored silk dress； sat by the side of her husband。
The old grandmother and the daughter were accommodated with two
chairs； and a yellow…haired youth； of whom； however； nothing was
to be seen except his head； lay at the bottom of the trap。
When they got to the bridge of Neuilly； Monsieur Dufour said：
〃Here we are in the country at last！〃 At that warning； his wife
grew sentimental about the beauties of nature。 When they got to
the crossroads at Courbevoie； they were seized with admiration
for the tremendous view down there： on the right was the spire of
Argenteuil church； above it rose the hills of Sannois and the
mill of Orgemont； while on the left； the aqueduct of Marly stood
out against the clear morning sky。 In the distance they could see
the terrace of Saint…Germain； and opposite to them； at the end of
a low chain of hills； the new fort of Cormeilles。 Afara very
long way off； beyond the plains and villagesone could see the
somber green of the forests。
The sun was beginning to shine in their faces； the dust got into
their eyes； and on either side of the road there stretched an
interminable tract of bare； ugly country； which smelled
unpleasantly。 You would have thought that it had been ravaged by
a pestilence which had even attacked the buildings； for skeletons
of dilapidated and deserted houses； or small cottages left in an
unfinished state； as if the contractors had not been paid； reared
their four roofless walls on each side。
Here and there tall factory…chimneys rose up from the barren
soil； the only vegetation on that putrid land； where the spring
breezes wafted an odor of petroleum and soot； mingled with
another smell that was even still less agreeable。 At last；
however； they crossed the Seine a second time。 It was delightful
on the bridge； the river sparkled in the sun； and they had a
feeling of quiet satisfaction and enjoyment in drinking in purer
air； not impregnated by the black smoke of factories； nor by the
miasma from the deposits of night…soil。 A man whom they met told
them that the name of the place was Bezons； so Monsieur Dufour
pulled up； and read the attractive announcement outside an
eating…house：
〃Restaurant Poulin； stews and fried fish； private rooms； arbors；
and swings。〃
〃Well！ Madame Dufour； will this suit you？ Will you make up your
mind at last？〃
She read the announcement in her turn； and then looked at the
house for a time。
It was a white country inn； built by the road…side； and through
the open door she could see the bright zinc of the counter； at
which two workmen out for the day were sitting。 At last she made
up her mind； and said：
〃Yes； this will do； and； besides； there is a view。〃
So they drove into a large yard studded with trees； behind the
inn； which was only separated from the river by the towing…path；
and got out。 The husband sprang out first； and held out his arms
for his wife。 As the step was very high； Madame Dufour； in order
to reach him； had to show the lower part of her limbs； whose
former slenderness had disappeared in fat。 Monsieur Dufour； who
was already getting excited by the country air； pinched her calf；
and then； taking her in his arms； set her on to the ground； as if
she had been some enormous bundle。 She shook