his day had
considered himself a connoisseur.

Madeleine and the mother walked side by side in silence; the two men
joined them. They soon reached the village, at the entrance to which
stood M. Duroy's tavern. A pine board fastened over the door indicated
that thirsty people might enter. The table was laid. A neighbor, who
had come to assist, made a low courtesy on seeing so beautiful a lady
appear; then recognizing Georges, she cried: "Oh Lord, is it you?"

He replied merrily: "Yes, it is I, Mother Brulin," and he kissed her as
he had kissed his father and mother. Then he turned to his wife:

"Come into our room," said he, "you can lay aside your hat."

They passed through a door to the right and entered a room paved with
brick, with whitewashed walls and a bed with cotton hangings.

A crucifix above a holy-water basin and two colored prints,
representing Paul and Virginia beneath a blue palm-tree, and Napoleon
I. on a yellow horse, were the only ornaments in that neat, but bare
room.

When they were alone, Georges embraced Madeleine.

"Good morning, Made! I am glad to see the old people once more. When
one is in Paris one does not think of this place, but when one returns,
one enjoys it just the same."

At that moment his father cried, knocking on the partition with his
fist: "Come, the soup is ready."

They re-entered the large public-room and took their seats at the
table. The meal was a long one, served in a truly rustic fashion.
Father Duroy, enlivened by the cider and several glasses of wine,
related many anecdotes, while Georges, to whom they were all familiar,
laughed at them.

Mother Duroy did not speak, but sat at the board, grim and austere,
glancing at her daughter-in-law with hatred in her heart.

Madeleine did not speak nor did she eat; she was depressed. Wherefore?
She had wished to come; she knew that she was coming to a simple home;
she had formed no poetical ideas of those peasants, but she had perhaps
expected to find them somewhat more polished, refined. She recalled her
own mother, of whom she never spoke to anyone--a governess who had been
betrayed and who had died of grief and shame when Madeleine was twelve
years old. A stranger had had the little girl educated. Her father
without doubt. Who was he? She did not know positively, but she had
vague suspicions.

The meal was not yet over when customers entered, shook hands with M.
Duroy, exclaimed on seeing his son, and seating thems