ion. He
felt reassured, as if he had anticipated her displaying a troubled
countenance, and asked: "Is your mistress quite well?"

She replied: "Oh! yes, sir, the same as usual," and showed him into the
drawing-room.

He went straight to the chimney-glass to ascertain the state of his hair
and his toilet, and was arranging his necktie before it, when he saw in
it the young woman watching him as she stood at the door leading from
her room. He pretended not to have noticed her, and the pair looked at
one another for a few moments in the glass, observing and watching
before finding themselves face to face. He turned round. She had not
moved, and seemed to be waiting. He darted forward, stammering: "My
darling! my darling!"

She opened her arms and fell upon his breast; then having lifted her
head towards him, their lips met in a long kiss.

He thought: "It is easier than I should have imagined. It is all going
on very well."

And their lips separating, he smiled without saying a word, while
striving to throw a world of love into his looks. She, too, smiled, with
that smile by which women show their desire, their consent, their wish
to yield themselves, and murmured: "We are alone. I have sent Laurine to
lunch with one of her young friends."

He sighed as he kissed her. "Thanks, I will worship you."

Then she took his arm, as if he had been her husband, to go to the sofa,
on which they sat down side by side. He wanted to start a clever and
attractive chat, but not being able to do so to his liking, stammered:
"Then you are not too angry with me?"

She put her hand on his mouth, saying "Be quiet."

They sat in silence, looking into one another's eyes, with burning
fingers interlaced.

"How I did long for you!" said he.

She repeated: "Be quiet."

They heard the servant arranging the table in the adjoining
dining-room, and he rose, saying: "I must not remain so close to you. I
shall lose my head."

The door opened, and the servant announced that lunch was ready. Duroy
gravely offered his arm.

They lunched face to face, looking at one another and constantly
smiling, solely taken up by themselves, and enveloped in the sweet
enchantment of a growing love. They ate, without knowing what. He felt a
foot, a little foot, straying under the table. He took it between his
own and kept it there, squeezing it with all his might. The servant came
and went, bringing and taking away the dishes with a careless air,
wit