to show
himself in public with this young girl whom he had so stupidly insulted,
and in whose face he never should be able to look again. Decidedly, he
did not understand women, since he could not even tell a virtuous girl
from a frivolous coquette! Why had he not been able to see that the
good-natured, simple familiarity of Reine Vincart had nothing in common
with the enticing allurements of those who, to use Claudet's words, had
"thrown their caps over the wall." How was it that he had not read, in
those eyes, pure as the fountain's source, the candor and uprightness of
a maiden heart which had nothing to conceal. This cruel evidence of his
inability to conduct himself properly in the affairs of life exasperated
and humiliated him, and at the same time that he felt his self-love most
deeply wounded, he was conscious of being more hopelessly enamored
of Reine Vincart. Never had she appeared so beautiful as during the
indignant movement which had separated her from him. Her look of mingled
anger and sadness, the expression of her firm, set lips, the quivering
nostrils, the heaving of her bosom, he recalled it all, and the image of
her proud beauty redoubled his grief and despair.

He remained a long time concealed in the shadow of the hut. Finally,
when he heard the voices dying away in different directions, and was
satisfied that the charcoal-men were attending to their furnace work, he
made up his mind to come out. But, as he did not wish to meet any one,
instead of crossing through the cutting he plunged into the wood, taking
no heed in what direction he went, and being desirous of walking alone
as long as possible, without meeting a single human visage.

As he wandered aimlessly through the deepening shadows of the forest,
crossed here and there by golden bars of light from the slanting rays
of the setting sun, he pondered over the probable results of his
unfortunate behavior. Reine would certainly keep silence on the affront
she had received, but would she be indulgent enough to forget or
forgive the insult? The most evident result of the affair would be that
henceforth all friendly relations between them must cease. She certainly
would maintain a severe attitude toward the person who had so grossly
insulted her, but would she be altogether pitiless in her anger?
All through his dismal feelings of self-reproach, a faint hope of
reconciliation kept him from utter despair. As he reviewed the details
of the shameful