onger see,
sang its flutelike song.

Up to the middle of May Pascal and Clotilde secluded themselves in this
way, without even crossing the threshold of their retreat. One morning
he disappeared and returned an hour later, bringing her a pair of
diamond earrings which he had hurried out to buy, remembering this was
her birthday. She adored jewels, and the gift astonished and delighted
her. From this time not a week passed in which he did not go out once or
twice in this way to bring her back some present. The slightest excuse
was sufficient for him--a _fete_, a wish, a simple pleasure. He brought
her rings, bracelets, a necklace, a slender diadem. He would take out
the other jewels and please himself by putting them all upon her in
the midst of their laughter. She was like an idol, seated on her chair,
covered with gold,--a band of gold on her hair, gold on her bare arms
and on her bare throat, all shining with gold and precious stones. Her
woman's vanity was delightfully gratified by this. She allowed herself
to be adored thus, to be adored on bended knees, like a divinity,
knowing well that this was only an exalted form of love. She began at
last to scold a little, however; to make prudent remonstrances; for, in
truth, it was an absurdity to bring her all these gifts which she must
afterward shut up in a drawer, without ever wearing them, as she went
nowhere.

They were forgotten after the hour of joy and gratitude which they gave
her in their novelty was over. But he would not listen to her, carried
away by a veritable mania for giving; unable, from the moment the idea
of giving her an article took possession of him, to resist the desire
of buying it. It was a munificence of the heart; an imperious desire to
prove to her that he thought of her always; a pride in seeing her the
most magnificent, the happiest, the most envied of women; a generosity
more profound even, which impelled him to despoil himself of everything,
of his money, of his life. And then, what a delight, when he saw he had
given her a real pleasure, and she threw herself on his neck, blushing,
thanking him with kisses. After the jewels, it was gowns, articles of
dress, toilet articles. Her room was littered, the drawers were filled
to overflowing.

One morning she could not help getting angry. He had brought her another
ring.

"Why, I never wear them! And if I did, my fingers would be covered to
the tips. Be reasonable, I beg of you."

"Then I