ery black hair. Her
dress clearly marked the outlines of her firm, full figure, which was
accentuated by the motion of her hips as she tried to swing herself
higher. Her arms were stretched over her head to hold the rope, so that
her bosom rose at every movement she made. Her hat, which a gust of
wind had blown off, was hanging behind her, and as the swing gradually
rose higher and higher, she showed her delicate limbs up to the knees
each time, and the wind from the perfumed petticoats, more heady than
the fumes of wine, blew into the faces of her father and friend, who
were looking at her in admiration.

Sitting in the other swing, Madame Dufour kept saying in a monotonous
voice:

"Cyprian, come and swing me; do come and swing me, Cyprian!"

At last he complied, and turning up his shirt-sleeves, as if he
intended to work very hard, with much difficulty he set his wife in
motion. She clutched the two ropes, and held her legs out straight, so
as not to touch the ground. She enjoyed feeling giddy from the motion
of the swing, and her whole figure shook like a jelly on a dish, but as
she went higher and higher, she grew too giddy and got frightened.
Every time she was coming back, she uttered a shriek, which made all
the little urchins come round, and, down below, beneath the garden
hedge, she vaguely saw a row of mischievous heads, making various
grimaces as they laughed.

When a servant girl came out, they ordered lunch.

"Some fried fish, a stewed rabbit, salad, and dessert," Madame Dufour
said, with an important air.

"Bring two quarts of beer and a bottle of claret," her husband said.

"We will have lunch on the grass," the girl added.

The grandmother, who had an affection for cats, had been petting one
that belonged to the house, and had been bestowing the most
affectionate words on it, for the last ten minutes. The animal, no
doubt secretly pleased by her attentions, kept close to the good woman,
but just out of reach of her hand, and quietly walked round the trees,
against which she rubbed herself, with her tail up, purring with
pleasure.

"Hallo!" exclaimed the youth with the yellow hair, who was ferreting
about, "here are two swell boats!" They all went to look at them, and
saw two beautiful skiffs in a wooden boathouse, which were as
beautifully finished as if they had been objects of luxury. They were
moored side by side, like two tall, slender girls, in their narrow
shining length, and aroused in