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the truth！〃
〃I have just told you。 I never have dishonored you。〃
He looked her full in the face； and how beautiful she was； with her gray
eyes； like the cold sky。 In her dark hair sparkled the diamond coronet；
like a radiance。 He suddenly felt； felt by a kind of intuition； that
this grand creature was not merely a being destined to perpetuate the
race； but the strange and mysterious product of all our complicated
desires which have been accumulating in us for centuries but which have
been turned aside from their primitive and divine object and have
wandered after a mystic； imperfectly perceived and intangible beauty。
There are some women like that； who blossom only for our dreams； adorned
with every poetical attribute of civilization； with that ideal luxury；
coquetry and esthetic charm which surround woman； a living statue that
brightens our life。
Her husband remained standing before her； stupefied at his tardy and
obscure discovery； confusedly hitting on the cause of his former jealousy
and understanding it all very imperfectly； and at last lie said： 〃I
believe you； for I feel at this moment that you are not lying； and before
I really thought that you were。〃
She put out her hand to him： 〃We are friends then？〃
He took her hand and kissed it and replied： 〃We are friends。 Thank you；
Gabrielle。〃
Then he went out； still looking at her； and surprised that she was still
so beautiful and feeling a strange emotion arising in him。
THE FATHER
I
He was a clerk in the Bureau of Public Education and lived at
Batignolles。 He took the omnibus to Paris every morning and always sat
opposite a girl； with whom he fell in love。
She was employed in a shop and went in at the same time every day。 She
was a little brunette； one of those girls whose eyes are so dark that
they look like black spots； on a complexion like ivory。 He always saw
her coming at the corner of the same street； and she generally had to run
to catch the heavy vehicle； and sprang upon the steps before the horses
had quite stopped。 Then she got inside； out of breath； and； sitting
down； looked round her。
The first time that he saw her； Francois Tessier liked the face。 One
sometimes meets a woman whom one longs to clasp in one's arms without
even knowing her。 That girl seemed to respond to some chord in his
being； to that sort of ideal of love which one cherishes in the depths of
the heart； without knowing it。
He looked at her intently； not meaning to be rude； and she became
embarrassed and blushed。 He noticed it； and tried to turn away his eyes；
but he involuntarily fixed them upon her again every moment； although he
tried to look in another direction； and； in a few days； they seemed to
know each other without having spoken。 He gave up his place to her when
the omnibus was full； and got outside； though he was very sorry to do it。
By this time she had got so far as to greet him with a little smile； and；
although she always dropped her eyes under his looks； which she felt were
too ardent； yet she did not appear offended at being looked at in such a
manner。
They ended by speaking。 A kind of rapid friendship had become
established between them； a daily freemasonry of half an hour； and that
was certainly one of the most charming half hours in his life to him。
He thought of her all the rest of the day； saw her image continually
during the long office hours。 He was haunted and bewitched by that
floating and yet tenacious recollection which the form of a beloved woman
leaves in us； and it seemed to him that if he could win that little
person it would be maddening happiness to him； almost above human
realization。
Every morning she now shook hands with him； and he preserved the sense of
that touch and the recollection of the gentle pressure of her little
fingers until the next day； and he almost fancied that he preserved the
imprint on his palm。 He anxiously waited for this short omnibus ride；
while Sundays seemed to him heartbreaking days。 However； there was no
doubt that she loved him； for one Saturday； in spring； she promised to go
and lunch with him at Maisons…Laffitte the next day。
II
She was at the railway station first； which surprised him； but she said：
〃Before going； I want to speak to you。 We have twenty minutes； and that
is more than I shall take for what I have to say。〃
She trembled as she hung on his arm； and looked down； her cheeks pale； as
she continued： 〃I do not want you to be deceived in me； and I shall not
go there with you； unless you promise； unless you swearnot to donot
to do anythingthat is at all improper。〃
She had suddenly become as red as a poppy； and said no more。 He did not
know what to reply； for he was happy and disappointed at the same time。
He should love her less； certainly； if he knew that her conduct was
light； but then it would be so charming； so delicious to have a little
flirtation。
As he did not say anything； she began to speak again in an agitated voice
and with tears in her eyes。 〃If you do not promise to respect me
altogether； I shall return home。〃 And so he squeezed her arm tenderly
and replied： 〃I promise； you shall only do what you like。〃 She appeared
relieved in mind； and asked； with a smile： 〃Do you really mean it？〃 And
he looked into her eyes and replied： 〃I swear it〃 〃Now you may take the
tickets；〃 she said。
During the journey they could hardly speak； as the carriage was full； and
when they reached Maisons…Laffite they went toward the Seine。 The sun；
which shone full on the river； on the leaves and the grass； seemed to be
reflected in their hearts； and they went； hand in hand； along the bank；
looking at the shoals of little fish swimming near the bank； and they
walked on； brimming over with happiness； as if they were walking on air。
At last she said： 〃How foolish you must think me！〃
〃Why？〃 he asked。 〃To come out like this； all alone with you。〃
〃Certainly not； it is quite natural。〃 〃No； no； it is not natural for me
because I do not wish to commit a fault； and yet this is how girls
fall。 But if you only knew how wretched it is； every day the same thing；
every day in the month and every month in the year。 I live quite alone
with mamma； and as she has had a great deal of trouble； she is not very
cheerful。 I do the best I can； and try to laugh in spite of everything；
but I do not always succeed。 But； all the same； it was wrong in me to
come； though you； at any rate； will not be sorry。〃
By way of an answer； he kissed her ardently on the ear that was nearest
him； but she moved from him with an abrupt movement； and； getting
suddenly angry； exclaimed： 〃Oh！ Monsieur Francois； after what you swore
to me！〃 And they went back to Maisons…Laffitte。
They had lunch at the Petit…Havre； a low house； buried under four
enormous poplar trees； by the side of the river。 The air； the heat； the
weak white wine and the sensation of being so close together made them
silent； their faces were flushed and they had a feeling of oppression；
but； after the coffee； they regained their high spirits； and； having
crossed the Seine； started off along the bank； toward the village of La