hich the house was built. And now it
raged and beat against the house, shaking it from garret to cellar, day
and night, without a moment's cessation. The tiles were blown off, the
fastenings of the windows were torn away, while the wind, entering the
crevices, moaned and sobbed wildly through the house; and the doors, if
they were left open for a moment, through forgetfulness, slammed to with
a noise like the report of a cannon. They might have fancied they were
sustaining a siege, so great were the noise and the discomfort.

It was in this melancholy house shaken by the storm that Pascal, on
the following day, helped Clotilde to make her preparations for her
departure. Old Mme. Rougon was not to return until Sunday, to say
good-by. When Martine was informed of the approaching separation,
she stood still in dumb amazement, and a flash, quickly extinguished,
lighted her eyes; and as they sent her out of the room, saying that they
would not require her assistance in packing the trunks, she returned
to the kitchen and busied herself in her usual occupations, seeming to
ignore the catastrophe which was about to revolutionize their household
of three. But at Pascal's slightest call she would run so promptly and
with such alacrity, her face so bright and so cheerful, in her zeal
to serve him, that she seemed like a young girl. Pascal did not leave
Clotilde for a moment, helping her, desiring to assure himself that she
was taking with her everything she could need. Two large trunks stood
open in the middle of the disordered room; bundles and articles of
clothing lay about everywhere; twenty times the drawers and the presses
had been visited. And in this work, this anxiety to forget nothing, the
painful sinking of the heart which they both felt was in some measure
lessened. They forgot for an instant--he watching carefully to see that
no space was lost, utilizing the hat-case for the smaller articles of
clothing, slipping boxes in between the folds of the linen; while she,
taking down the gowns, folded them on the bed, waiting to put them
last in the top tray. Then, when a little tired they stood up and found
themselves again face to face, they would smile at each other at first;
then choke back the sudden tears that started at the recollection of the
impending and inevitable misfortune. But though their hearts bled they
remained firm. Good God! was it then true that they were to be no
longer together? And then they heard the wi