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 swear—not
to do—not to do anything—that
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.”
