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country？〃
〃Oh！ Only once or twice a year； to get a little fresh air； and
you； Monsieur？〃
〃I come and sleep here every night。〃
〃Oh！ That must be very nice？〃
〃Certainly it is； Madame。〃 And he gave them such a practical
account of his daily life； that in the hearts of these
shopkeepers； who were deprived of the meadows； and who longed for
country walks； it roused that innate love of nature； which they
all felt so strongly the whole year round； behind the counter in
their shop。
The girl raised her eyes and looked at the oarsman with
emotion； and Monsieur Dufour spoke for the first time。
〃It is indeed a happy life；〃 he said。 And then he added： 〃A
little more rabbit； my dear？〃
〃No； thank you；〃 she replied； and turning to the young men again；
and pointing to their arms； asked 〃Do you never feel cold like
that？〃
They both laughed； and amazed the family by telling of the
enormous fatigue they could endure； of bathing while in a state
of tremendous perspiration； of rowing in the fog at night； and
they struck their chests violently； to show how they sounded。
〃Ah！ You look very strong；〃 the husband said and he did not talk
any more of the time when he used to beat the English。 The girl
was looking at them askance now； and the young fellow with the
yellow hair； as he had swallowed some wine the wrong way； and was
coughing violently； bespattered Madame Dufour's sherry…colored
silk dress。 Madame got angry； and sent for some water to wash the
spots。
Meanwhile it had grown unbearably hot； the sparkling river looked
like a blaze of fire and the fumes of the wine were getting into
their heads。 Monsieur Dufour； who had a violent hiccough； had
unbuttoned his waistcoat and the top of his trousers； while his
wife； who felt choking； was gradually unfastening her dress。 The
youth was shaking his yellow wig in a happy frame of mind； and
kept helping himself to wine； and as the old grandmother felt
drunk； she endeavored to be very stiff and dignified。 As for the
girl； she showed nothing except a peculiar brightness in her
eyes； while the brown skin on the cheeks became more rosy。
The coffee finished them off； they spoke of singing； and each of
them sang； or repeated a couplet； which the others repeated
enthusiastically。 Then they got up with some difficulty； and
while the two women； who were rather dizzy； were getting some
fresh air； the two males； who were altogether drunk； were
performing gymnastic tricks。 Heavy； limp； and with scarlet faces；
they hung awkwardly on to the iron rings； without being able to
raise themselves； while their shirts were continually threatening
to part company with their trousers； and to flap in the wind like
flags。
Meanwhile； the two boating…men had got their skiffs into the
water。 They came back； and politely asked the ladies whether they
would like a row。
〃Would you like one； Monsieur Dufour？〃 his wife exclaimed。
〃Please come！〃
He merely gave her a drunken look； without understanding what she
said。 Then one of the rowers came up； with two fishing…rods in
his hand； and the hope of catching a gudgeon； that great aim of
the Parisian shopkeeper； made Dufour's dull eyes gleam。 He
politely allowed them to do whatever they liked； while he sat in
the shade； under the bridge； with his feet dangling over the
river； by the side of the young man with the yellow hair； who was
sleeping soundly close to him。
One of the boating…men made a martyr of himself； and took the
mother。
〃Let us go to the little wood on the Ile aux Anglais！〃 he called
out； as he rowed off。 The other skiff went slower； for the rower
was looking at his companion so intently； that he thought of
nothing else。 His emotion paralyzed his strength； while the girl；
who was sitting on the steerer's seat； gave herself up to the
enjoyment of being on the water。 She felt disinclined to think；
felt a lassitude in her limbs a complete self…relaxation； as if
she were intoxicated。 She had become very flushed； and breathed
pantingly。 The effect of the wine； increased by the extreme heat；
made all the trees on the bank seem to bow； as she passed。 A
vague wish for enjoyment； a fermentation of her blood； seemed to
pervade her whole body； and she was also a little agitated by
this tete…a…tete on the water； in a place which seemed
depopulated by the heat； with this young man； who thought her so
pretty； whose looks seemed to caress her skin； and whose eyes
were as penetrating and exciting as the sun's rays。
Their inability to speak increased their emotion； and they looked
about them。 At last he made an effort and asked her name；
〃Henriette；〃 she said。
〃Why！ My name is Henri；〃 he replied。 The sound of their voices
calmed them； and they looked at the banks。 The other skiff had
gone ahead of them； and seemed to be waiting for them。 The rower
called out：
〃We will meet you in the wood； we are going as far as
Robinson's；＇1＇ because Madame Dufour is thirsty。〃 Then he bent
over his oars again and rowed off so quickly that he was soon out
of sight。
＇1＇ A well…known restaurant on the banks of the Seine； much
frequented by the bourgeoisie。
Meanwhile； a continual roar； which they had heard for some time；
came nearer； and the river itself seemed to shiver； as if the
dull noise were rising from its depths。
〃What is that noise？〃 she asked。 It was the noise of the weir；
which cut the river in two； at the island。 He was explaining it
to her； when above the noise of the waterfall they heard the song
of a bird； which seemed a long way off。
〃Listen！〃 he said； 〃the nightingales are singing during the day；
so the females must be sitting。〃
A nightingale！ She had never heard one before； and the idea of
listening to one roused visions of poetic tenderness in her
heart。 A nightingale！ That is to say； the invisible witness of
the lover's interview which Juliette invoked on her balcony＇2＇；
that celestial music which is attuned to human kisses； that
eternal inspirer of all those languorous romances which open
idealized visions to the poor； tender； little hearts of sensitive
girls！
＇2＇ 〃Romeo and Juliet；〃 Act III。； Scene V。
She wanted to hear a nightingale。
〃We must not make a noise；〃 her companion said； 〃and then we can
go into the wood； and sit down close to it。〃
The skiff seemed to glide。 They saw the trees on the island； the
banks of which were so low that they could look into the depths
of the thickets。 They stopped； he made the boat fast； Henriette
took hold of Henri's arm； and they went beneath the trees。
〃Stoop；〃 he said； so she bent down； and they went into an
inextricable thicket of creepers； leaves； and reed…grass； which
formed an impenetrable retreat； and which the young man
laughingly called 〃his private room。〃
Just above their heads； perched in one of the trees which hid
them； the bird was still singing。 He uttered shakes and roulades；
and then long； vibrating sounds that filled the air and seemed to
lose themselves in the distance； across the level country；
through that burning silence which hung low upon the whole
country round。 They did not speak for fear of frightening the
bird away。 They were sitting close together；