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 when they reached Maisons-Laffite they went toward the Seine. The
sun, which shone full on the river, on the leaves and the grass, seemed
to be reflected in their hearts, and they went, hand in hand, along the
bank, looking at the shoals of little fish swimming near the bank, and
they walked on, brimming over with happiness, as if they were walking on
air.

At last she said: "How foolish you must think me!"

"Why?" he asked. "To come out like this, all alone with you."

"Certainly not; it is quite natural." "No, no; it is not natural for
me--because I do not wish to commit a fault, and yet this is how girls
fall. But if you only knew how wretched it is, every day the same thing,
every day in the month and every month in the year. I live quite alone
with mamma, and as she has had a great deal of trouble, she is not very
cheerful. I do the best I can, and try to laugh in spite of everything,
but I do not always succeed. But, all the same, it was wrong in me to
come, though you, at any rate, will not be sorry."

By way of an answer, he kissed her ardently on the ear that was neare