Rosalie thereupon sat down again.  Zephyrin, who had also been standing, made a military salute, and returned to the cutting of his meat, with his elbows projecting as though to show that he knew how to conduct himself at table.  Thus eating together, after madame had finished dinner, they did not even draw the table into the middle of the kitchen, but contented themselves with sitting side by side, with their noses turned towards the wall.  A glorious prospect of stewpans was before them.  A bunch of laurel and thyme hung near, and a spice-box exhaled a piquant perfume.  Around them—­the kitchen was not yet tidied—­was all the litter of the things cleared away from the dining-room; however, the spot seemed a charming one to these hungry sweethearts, and especially to Zephyrin, who here feasted on such things as were never seen within the walls of his barracks.  The predominant odor was one of roast meat, seasoned with a dash of vinegar—­the vinegar of the salad.  In the copper pans and iron pots the reflected light from the gas was dancing; and as the heat of the fire was beyond endurance, they had set the window ajar, and a cool breeze blew in from the garden, stirring the blue cotton curtain.

“Must you be in by ten o’clock exactly?” asked Helene.

“I must, madame, with all deference to you,” answered Zephyrin.

“Well, it’s along way off.  Do you take the ’’bus’?”

“Oh, yes, madame, sometimes.  But you see a good swinging walk is much the best.”

She had taken a step into the kitchen, and leaning against the dresser, her arms dangling and her hands clasped over her dressing-gown, she began gossiping away about the wretched weather they had had that day, about the food which was rationed out in barracks, and the high price of eggs.  As soon, however, as she had asked a question and their answer had been given the conversation abruptly fell.  They experienced some discomfort with her standing thus behind their backs.  They did not turn round, but spoke into their plates, their shoulders bent beneath her gaze, while, to conform to propriety, each mouthful they swallowed was as small as possible.  On the other hand, Helene had now regained her tranquillity, and felt quite happy there.

“Don’t fret, madame,” said Rosalie; “the kettle is singing already.  I wish the fire would only burn up a little better!”

She wanted to see to it, but Helene would not allow her to disturb herself.  It would be all right by-and-by.  An intense weariness now pervaded the young woman’s limbs.  Almost mechanically she crossed the kitchen and approached the window, where she observed the third chair, which was very high, and when turned over became a stepladder.  However, she did not sit down on it at once, for she had caught sight of a number of pictures heaped up on a corner of the table.

“Dear me!” she exclaimed, as she took them in her hand, inspired with the wish of gratifying Zephyrin.