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bird away。 They were sitting close together； and slowly Henri's
arm stole round the girl's waist and squeezed it gently。 She took
that daring hand； but without anger； and kept removing it
whenever he put it round her； not； however； feeling at all
embarrassed by this caress； just as if it had been something
quite natural which she was resisting just as naturally。
She was listening to the bird in ecstasy。 She felt an infinite
longing for happiness； for some sudden demonstration of
tenderness； for a revelation of divine poesy。 She felt such a
softening at her heart； and such a relaxation of her nerves； that
she began to cry； without knowing why。 The young man was now
straining her close to him； and she did not remove his arm； she
did not think of it。 Suddenly the nightingale stopped； and a
voice called out in the distance：
〃Henriette！〃
〃Do not reply；〃 he said in a low voice； 〃you will drive the bird
away。〃
But she had no idea of doing so； and they remained in the same
position for some time。 Madame Dufour had sat down somewhere or
other； for from time to time they heard the stout lady break out
into little bursts of laughter。
The girl was still crying； she was filled with strange
sensations。 Henri's head was on her shoulder； and suddenly he
kissed her on the lips。 She was surprised and angry； and； to
avoid him； she stood up。
They were both very pale when they quitted their grassy retreat。
The blue sky looked dull to them； the ardent sun was clouded over
to their eyes； they perceived not the solitude and the silence。
They walked quickly side by side； without speaking or touching
each other； appearing to be irreconcilable enemies； as if disgust
had sprung up between them； and hatred between their souls。 From
time to time Henriette called out： 〃Mamma！〃
By and by they heard a noise in a thicket； and Madame Dufour
appeared； looking rather confused； and her companion's face was
wrinkled with smiles that he could not check。
Madame Dufour took his arm； and they returned to the boats。 Henri
went on first； still without speaking； by the girl's side； and at
last they got back to Bezons。 Monsieur Dufour； who had sobered
up； was waiting for them very impatiently； while the youth with
the yellow hair was having a mouthful of something to eat before
leaving the inn。 The carriage was in the yard； with the horse in；
and the grandmother； who had already got in； was frightened at
the thought of being overtaken by night； before they got back to
Paris； the outskirts not being safe。
The young men shook hands with them； and the Dufour family drove
off。
〃Good…bye； until we meet again！〃 the oarsmen cried； and the
answers they got were a sigh and a tear。
* * * * * * *
Two months later； as Henri was going along the Rue des Martyrs；
he saw 〃Dufour； Ironmonger；〃 over a door。 So he went in； and saw
the stout lady sitting at the counter。 They recognized each other
immediately； and after an interchange of polite greetings； he
inquired after them all。
〃And how is Mademoiselle Henriette？〃 he inquired； specially。
〃Very well； thank you； she is married。〃
〃Ah！〃 Mastering his feelings； he added： 〃To whom was she
married？〃
〃To that young man who went with us； you know； he has joined us
in business。〃
〃I remember him； perfectly。〃
He was going out； feeling unhappy； though scarcely knowing why；
when Madame called him back。
〃And how is your friend？〃 she asked； rather shyly。
〃He is very well； thank you。〃
〃Please give him our compliments； and beg him to come and call
when he is in the neighborhood。〃 She then added： 〃Tell him it
will give me great pleasure。〃
〃I will be sure to do so。 Adieu！〃
〃I will not say that； come again； very soon。〃
* * * * * * *
The next year； one very hot Sunday； all the details of that
memorable adventure suddenly came back to him so clearly that he
revisited the 〃private room〃 in the wood； and was overwhelmed
with astonishment when he went in。 She was sitting on the grass；
looking very sad； while by her side； again in his shirt…sleeves；
the young man with the yellow hair was sleeping soundly； like
some brute。
She grew so pale when she saw Henri； that at first he thought she
was going to faint； then； however； they began to talk quite
naturally。 But when he told her that he was very fond of that
spot； and went there very often on Sundays； she looked into his
eyes for a long time。 〃I； too； often think of it；〃 she replied。
〃Come； my dear；〃 her husband said； with a yawn； 〃I think it is
time for us to be going。〃
End