eyes under his looks, which she felt were
too ardent, yet she did not appear offended at being looked at in such a
manner.

They ended by speaking. A kind of rapid friendship had become established
between them, a daily freemasonry of half an hour, and that was certainly
one of the most charming half hours in his life to him. He thought of her
all the rest of the day, saw her image continually during the long office
hours. He was haunted and bewitched by that floating and yet tenacious
recollection which the form of a beloved woman leaves in us, and it
seemed to him that if he could win that little person it would be
maddening happiness to him, almost above human realization.

Every morning she now shook hands with him, and he preserved the sense of
that touch and the recollection of the gentle pressure of her little
fingers until the next day, and he almost fancied that he preserved the
imprint on his palm. He anxiously waited for this short omnibus ride,
while Sundays seemed to him heartbreaking days. However, there was no
doubt that she loved him, for one Saturday, in spring, she promised to go
and lunch with him at Maisons-Laffitte the next day.

II

She was at the railway station first, which surprised him, but she said:
"Before going, I want to speak to you. We have twenty minutes, and that
is more than I shall take for what I have to say."

She trembled as she hung on his arm, and looked down, her cheeks pale, as
she continued: "I do not want you to be deceived in me, and I shall not
go there with you, unless you promise, unless you swear--not to
do--not to do anything--that is at all improper."

She had suddenly become as red as a poppy, and said no more. He did not
know what to reply, for he was happy and disappointed at the same time.
He should love her less, certainly, if he knew that her conduct was
light, but then it would be so charming, so delicious to have a little
flirtation.

As he did not say anything, she began to speak again in an agitated voice
and with tears in her eyes. "If you do not promise to respect me
altogether, I shall return home." And so he squeezed her arm tenderly and
replied: "I promise, you shall only do what you like." She appeared
relieved in mind, and asked, with a smile: "Do you really mean it?" And
he looked into her eyes and replied: "I swear it" "Now you may take the
tickets," she said.

During the journey they could hardly speak, as the carriage was full, and
wh