be heard a long way off.  But although, on certain days, they summoned one another two or three times in succession to speak of trifles of immense importance, it was only in the evening in that lonely little passage that they tasted real happiness.  Miette was exceptionally punctual.  She fortunately slept over the kitchen, in a room where the winter provisions had been kept before her arrival, and which was reached by a little private staircase.  She was thus able to go out at all hours, without being seen by Rebufat or Justin.  Moreover, if the latter should ever see her returning she intended to tell him some tale or other, staring at him the while with that stern look which always reduced him to silence.

Ah! how happy those warm evenings were!  The lovers had now reached the first days of September, a month of bright sunshine in Provence.  It was hardly possible for them to join each other before nine o’clock.  Miette arrived from over the wall, in surmounting which she soon acquired such dexterity that she was almost always on the old tombstone before Silvere had time to stretch out his arms.  She would laugh at her own strength and agility as, for a moment, with her hair in disorder, she remained almost breathless, tapping her skirt to make it fall.  Her sweetheart laughingly called her an impudent urchin.  In reality he much admired her pluck.  He watched her jump over the wall with the complacency of an older brother supervising the exercises of a younger one.  Indeed, there was yet much that was childlike in their growing love.  On several occasions they spoke of going on some bird’s-nesting expedition on the banks of the Viorne.

“You’ll see how I can climb,” said Miette proudly.  “When I lived at Chavanoz, I used to go right up to the top of old Andre’s walnut-trees.  Have you ever taken a magpie’s nest?  It’s very difficult!”

Then a discussion arose as to how one ought to climb a poplar.  Miette stated her opinions, with all a boy’s confidence.

However, Silvere, clasping her round the knees, had by this time lifted her to the ground, and then they would walk on, side by side, their arms encircling each other’s waist.  Though they were but children, fond of frolicsome play and chatter, and knew not even how to speak of love, yet they already partook of love’s delight.  It sufficed them to press each other’s hands.  Ignorant whither their feelings and their hearts were drifting, they did not seek to hide the blissful thrills which the slightest touch awoke.  Smiling, often wondering at the delight they experienced, they yielded unconsciously to the sweetness of new feelings even while talking, like a couple of schoolboys, of the magpies’ nests which are so difficult to reach.

And as they talked they went down the silent path, between the piles of planks and the wall of the Jas-Meiffren.  They never went beyond the end of that narrow blind alley, but invariably retraced their steps.  They were quite at home there.  Miette, happy in the knowledge of their safe concealment, would often pause and congratulate herself on her discovery.