From the corner where he had chosen to stand alone, Julien de Buxieres observed, with pain, the mute eloquence of her profound grief, and became once more a prey to the fiercest jealousy.  He could not help envying the fate of this deceased, who was mourned in so tender a fashion.  Again the mystery of an attachment so evident and so tenacious, followed by so strange a rupture, tormented his uneasy soul.  “She must have loved Claudet, since she is in mourning for him,” he kept repeating to himself, “and if she loved him, why this rupture, which she herself provoked, and which drove the unhappy man to despair?”

At the close of the absolution, all the assistants defiled close beside Julien, who was now standing in front of the catafalque.  When it came to Reine Vincart’s turn, she reached out her hand to M. de Buxieres; at the same time, she gazed at him with such friendly sadness, and infused into the clasp of her hand something so cordial and intimate that the young man’s ideas were again completely upset.  He seemed to feel as if it were an encouragement to speak.  When the men and women had dispersed, and a surging of the crowd brought him nearer to Reine, he resolved to follow her, without regard to the question of what people would say, or the curious eyes that might be watching him.

A happy chance came in his way.  Reine Vincart had gone home by the path along the outskirts of the wood and the park enclosure.  Julien went hastily back to the chateau, crossed the gardens, and followed an interior avenue, parallel to the exterior one, from which he was separated only by a curtain of linden and nut trees.  He could just distinguish, between the leafy branches, Reine’s black gown, as she walked rapidly along under the ashtrees.  At the end of the enclosure, he pushed open a little gate, and came abruptly out on the forest path.

On beholding him standing in advance of her, the young girl appeared more surprised than displeased.  After a momentary hesitation, she walked quietly toward him.

“Mademoiselle Reine,” said he then, gently, “will you allow me to accompany you as far as La Thuiliere?”

“Certainly,” she replied, briefly.

She felt a presentiment that something decisive was about to take place between her and Julien, and her voice trembled as she replied.  Profiting by the tacit permission, de Buxieres walked beside Reine; the path was so narrow that their garments rustled against each other, yet he did not seem in haste to speak, and the silence was interrupted only by the occasional flight of a bird, or the crackling of some falling branches.

“Reine,” said Julien, suddenly, “you have so often and so kindly extended to me the hand of friendship, that I have decided to speak frankly, and open my heart to you.  I love you, Reine, and have loved you for a long time.  But I have been so accustomed to hide what I think, I know so little how to conduct myself in the varying circumstances of life, and I have so much mistrust of myself, that I never have dared to tell you before now.  This will explain to you my stupid behavior.  I am suffering the penalty to-day, for while I was hesitating, another took my place; although he is dead, his shadow stands between us, and I know that you love him still.”