usband comes home
only in the evening, and then sits down in his armchair to smoke his
pipe, he isn't so much inconvenienced. I do all I can for him, and he is
reasonable enough not to ask me to do more. But with a child I fear that
it will be impossible to get on here."

The recollection of her first boy, her little Pierre, returned to her,
and her eyes filled with tears. "Ah! monsieur, that was ten years ago,
and I can still see La Couteau bringing him back to me, just as she'll
be bringing the other by and by. I was told so many tales; there was
such good air at Rougemont, and the children led such healthy lives, and
my boy had such rosy cheeks, that I ended by leaving him there till he
was five years old, regretting that I had no room for him here. And no,
you can't have an idea of all the presents that the nurse wheedled out
of me, of all the money that I paid! It was ruination! And then, all at
once, I had just time to send for the boy, and he was brought back to me
as thin and pale and weak, as if he had never tasted good bread in his
life. Two months later he died in my arms. His father fell ill over it,
and if we hadn't been attached to one another, I think we should both
have gone and drowned ourselves."

Scarce wiping her eyes she feverishly returned to the threshold, and
again cast a passionate expectant glance towards the avenue. And when
she came back, having seen nothing, she resumed: "So you will understand
our emotion when, two years ago, though I was thirty-seven, I again had
a little boy. We were wild with delight, like a young married couple.
But what a lot of trouble and worry! We had to put the little fellow out
to nurse as we let the other one, since we could not possibly keep him
here. And even after swearing that he should not go to Rougemont we
ended by saying that we at least knew the place, and that he would not
be worse off there than elsewhere. Only we sent him to La Vimeux, for we
wouldn't hear any more of La Loiseau since she sent Pierre back in such
a fearful state. And this time, as the little fellow is now two years
old, I was determined to have him home again, though I don't even know
where I shall put him. I've been waiting for an hour now, and I can't
help trembling, for I always fear some catastrophe."

She could not remain in the shop, but remained standing by the doorway,
with her neck outstretched and her eyes fixed on the street corner. All
at once a deep cry came from her: "