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crossed the Seine； started off along the bank； toward the village of La
Frette。 Suddenly he asked： 〃What…is your name？〃
〃Louise。〃
〃Louise；〃 he repeated and said nothing more。
The girl picked daisies and made them into a great bunch； while he sang
vigorously； as unrestrained as a colt that has been turned into a meadow。
On their left a vine…covered slope followed the river。 Francois stopped
motionless with astonishment： 〃Oh； look there！〃 he said。
The vines had come to an end； and the whole slope was covered with lilac
bushes in flower。 It was a purple wood！ A kind of great carpet of
flowers stretched over the earth； reaching as far as the village； more
than two miles off。 She also stood； surprised and delighted； and
murmured： 〃Oh！ how pretty！〃 And； crossing a meadow； they ran toward
that curious low hill； which； every year； furnishes all the lilac that is
drawn through Paris on the carts of the flower venders。
There was a narrow path beneath the trees； so they took it； and when they
came to a small clearing； sat down。
Swarms of flies were buzzing around them and making a continuous； gentle
sound； and the sun； the bright sun of a perfectly still day； shone over
the bright slopes and from that forest of blossoms a powerful fragrance
was borne toward them； a breath of perfume； the breath of the flowers。
A church clock struck in the distance； and they embraced gently； then；
without the knowledge of anything but that kiss； lay down on the grass。
But she soon came to herself with the feeling of a great misfortune； and
began to cry and sob with grief； with her face buried in her hands。
He tried to console her； but she wanted to start to return and to go home
immediately； and she kept saying； as she walked along quickly： 〃Good
heavens！ good heavens！〃
He said to her： 〃Louise！ Louise！ Please let us stop here。〃 But now her
cheeks were red and her eyes hollow； and； as soon as they got to the
railway station in Paris； she left him without even saying good…by。
III
When he met her in the omnibus； next day； she appeared to him to be
changed and thinner； and she said to him： 〃I want to speak to you； we
will get down at the Boulevard。〃
As soon as they were on the pavement； she said：
〃We must bid each other good…by； I cannot meet you again。〃 〃But why？〃 he
asked。 〃Because I cannot； I have been culpable； and I will not be so
again。〃
Then he implored her； tortured by his love； but she replied firmly： 〃No；
I cannot； I cannot。〃 He； however； only grew all the more excited and
promised to marry her； but she said again： 〃No；〃 and left him。
For a week he did not see her。 He could not manage to meet her； and； as
he did not know her address； he thought that he had lost her altogether。
On the ninth day； however； there was a ring at his bell； and when he
opened the door； she was there。 She threw herself into his arms and did
not resist any longer； and for three months they were close friends。
He was beginning to grow tired of her； when she whispered something to
him； and then he had one idea and wish： to break with her at any price。
As； however； he could not do that； not knowing how to begin； or what to
say； full of anxiety through fear of the consequences of his rash
indiscretion； he took a decisive step： one night he changed his lodgings
and disappeared。
The blow was so heavy that she did not look； for the man who had
abandoned her； but threw herself at her mother's knees and confessed her
misfortune； and； some months after； gave birth to a boy。
IV
Years passed； and Francois Tessier grew old； without there having been
any alteration in his life。 He led the dull； monotonous life of an
office clerk； without hope and without expectation。 Every day he got up
at the same time； went through the same streets； went through the same
door； past the same porter； went into the same office； sat in the same
chair； and did the same work。 He was alone in the world； alone during
the day in the midst of his different colleagues； and alone at night in
his bachelor's lodgings； and he laid by a hundred francs a month against
old age。
Every Sunday he went to the Champs…Elysees； to watch the elegant people；
the carriages and the pretty women； and the next day he used to say to
one of his colleagues： 〃The return of the carriages from the Bois du
Boulogne was very brilliant yesterday。〃 One fine Sunday morning；
however； he went into the Parc Monceau； where the mothers and nurses；
sitting on the sides of the walks； watched the children playing； and
suddenly Francois Tessier started。 A woman passed by； holding two
children by the hand； a little boy of about ten and a little girl of
four。 It was she！
He walked another hundred yards anti then fell into a chair； choking with
emotion。 She had not recognized him； and so he came back； wishing to see
her again。 She was sitting down now； and the boy was standing by her
side very quietly； while the little girl was making sand castles。 It was
she； it was certainly she； but she had the reserved appearance of a lady；
was dressed simply； and looked self…possessed and dignified。 He looked
at her from a distance； for he did not venture to go near； but the little
boy raised his head； and Francois Tessier felt himself tremble。 It was
his own son； there could be no doubt of that。 And； as he looked at him；
he thought he could recognize himself as he appeared in an old photograph
taken years ago。 He remained hidden behind a tree； waiting for her to go
that he might follow her。
He did not sleep that night。 The idea of the child especially tormented
him。 His son！ Oh； if he could only have known； have been sure！ But
what could he have done？ However； he went to the house where she lived
and asked about her。 He was told that a neighbor； an honorable man of
strict morals； had been touched by her distress and had married her； he
knew the fault she had committed and had married her； and had even
recognized the child； his； Francois Tessier's child； as his own。
He returned to the Parc Monceau every Sunday； for then he always saw her；
and each time he was seized with a mad； an irresistible longing to take
his son into his arms； to cover him with kisses and to steal him； to
carry him off。
He suffered horribly in his wretched isolation as an old bachelor； with
nobody to care for him； and he also suffered atrocious mental torture；
torn by paternal tenderness springing from remorse； longing and jealousy
and from that need of loving one's own children which nature has
implanted in all。 At last he determined to make a despairing attempt；
and； going up to her； as she entered the park； he said； standing in the
middle of the path； pale and with trembling lips： 〃You do not recognize
me。〃 She raised her eyes； looked at him； uttered an exclamation of
horror； of terror； and； taking the two children by the hand； she rushed
away； dragging them after her； while he went home and wept inconsolably。
Months passed without his seeing her again； but he suffered； day and
night； for he was a prey to his paternal love。 He would gladly have
died； if he could only have kissed his son； he would have