Yvetteregainedallhergaiety:\"\'Teardrop\'？WhyheweepslikeaMagdalene。Hegoestoallthefirst-classfunerals。Iimaginemyselfdeadeverytimehelooksatme。\"
\"Thatsettlesthethird。SothelightningwillstrikeBaronSaval，here。\"
\"MonsieurtheColossusofRhodes，Junior？No。Heistoostrong。ItwouldseemtomeasifIwereinlovewiththetriumphalarchofL\'Etoile。\"
\"ThenMam\'zelle，itisbeyonddoubtthatyouareinlovewithme，forIamtheonlyoneofyouradorersofwhomwehavenotyetspoken。Ileftmyselfforthelastthroughmodestyandthroughdiscretion。Itremainsformetothankyou。\"
Sherepliedwithhappygrace:\"Inlovewithyou，Muscade？Ah！no。I
likeyou，butIdon\'tloveyou。Wait——I——Idon\'twanttodiscourageyou。Idon\'tloveyou——yet。Youhaveachance——perhaps。Persevere，Muscade，bedevoted，ardent，submissive，fulloflittleattentionsandconsiderations，dociletomyslightestcaprices，readyforanythingtopleaseme，andweshallsee——later。\"
\"But，Mam\'zelle，Iwouldratherfurnishallyoudemandafterwardthanbeforehand，ifitbethesametoyou。\"
Sheaskedwithanartlessair:\"Afterwhat，Muscade？\"
\"Afteryouhaveshownmethatyouloveme，byJove！\"
\"Well，actasifIlovedyou，andbelieveit，ifyouwish。\"
\"Butyou——\"
\"Bequiet，Muscade；enoughonthesubject。\"
Thesunhadsunkbehindtheisland，butthewholeskystillflamedlikeafire，andthepeacefulwateroftheriverseemedchangedtoblood。Thereflectionsfromthehorizonreddenedhouses，objects，andpersons。ThescarletroseintheMarquise\'shairhadtheappearanceofasplashofpurplefallenfromthecloudsuponherhead。
AsYvettelookedonfromherend，theMarquiserested，asifbycarelessness，herbarehanduponSaval\'shand；buttheyounggirlmadeamotionandtheMarquisewithdrewherhandwithaquickgesture，pretendingtoreadjustsomethinginthefoldsofhercorsage。
Servigny，whowaslookingatthem，said:
\"Ifyoulike，Mam\'zelle，wewilltakeawalkontheislandafterdinner。\"
\"Oh，yes！Thatwillbedelightful。Wewillgoallalone，won\'twe，Muscade？\"
\"Yes，allalone，Mam\'zelle！\"
Thevastsilenceofthehorizon，thesleepytranquillityoftheeveningcapturedheart，body，andvoice。Therearepeaceful，chosenhourswhenitbecomesalmostimpossibletotalk。
Theservantswaitedonthemnoiselessly。Thefirmamentalconflagrationfadedaway，andthesoftnightspreaditsshadowsovertheearth。
\"Areyougoingtostaylonginthisplace？\"askedSaval。
AndtheMarquiseanswered，dwellingoneachword:\"Yes，aslongasI
amhappy。\"
Asitwastoodarktosee，lampswerebrought。Theycastuponthetableastrange，palegleambeneaththegreatobscurityofspace；
andverysoonashowerofgnatsfelluponthetablecloth——thetinygnatswhichimmolatethemselvesbypassingovertheglasschimneys，and，withwingsandlegsscorched，powderthetablelinen，dishes，andcupswithakindofgrayandhoppingdust。
Theyswallowedtheminthewine，theyatetheminthesauces，theysawthemmovingonthebread，andhadtheirfacesandhandstickledbythecountlessswarmofthesetinyinsects。Theywerecontinuallycompelledtothrowawaythebeverages，tocovertheplates，andwhileeatingtoshieldthefoodwithinfiniteprecautions。
ItamusedYvette。Servignytookcaretoshelterwhatsheboretohermouth，toguardherglass，toholdhishandkerchiefstretchedoutoverherheadlikearoof。ButtheMarquise，disgusted，becamenervous，andtheendofthedinnercamequickly。Yvette，whohadnotforgottenServigny\'sproposition，saidtohim:
\"Nowwe\'llgototheisland。\"
Hermothercautionedherinalanguidtone:\"Don\'tbelate，aboveallthings。Wewillescortyoutotheferry。\"
Andtheystartedincouples，theyounggirlandheradmirerwalkinginfront，ontheroadtotheshore。Theyheard，behindthem，theMarquiseandSavalspeakingveryrapidlyinlowtones。Allwasdark，withathick，inkydarkness。Buttheskyswarmedwithgrainsoffire，andseemedtosowthemintheriver，fortheblackwaterwasfleckedwithstars。
Thefrogswerecroakingmonotonouslyuponthebank，andnumerousnightingaleswereutteringtheirlow，sweetsonginthecalmandpeacefulair。
Yvettesuddenlysaid:\"Gracious！Theyarenotwalkingbehindusanymore，wherearethey？\"Andshecalledout:\"Mamma！\"Novoicereplied。Theyounggirlresumed:\"Atanyrate，theycan\'tbefaraway，forIheardthemjustnow。\"
Servignymurmured:\"Theymusthavegoneback。Yourmotherwascold，perhaps。\"Andhedrewheralong。
Beforethemalightgleamed。ItwasthetavernofMartinet，restaurant-keeperandfisherman。Attheircallamancameoutofthehouse，andtheygotintoalargeboatwhichwasmooredamongtheweedsoftheshore。
Theferrymantookhisoars，andtheunwieldybarge，asitadvanced，disturbedthesleepingstarsuponthewaterandsetthemintoamaddance，whichgraduallycalmeddownaftertheyhadpassed。Theytouchedtheothershoreanddisembarkedbeneaththegreattrees。A
coolfreshnessofdampearthpermeatedtheairundertheloftyandclusteredbranches，wherethereseemedtobeasmanynightingalesastherewereleaves。Adistantpianobegantoplayapopularwaltz。
ServignytookYvette\'sarmandverygentlyslippedhishandaroundherwaistandgaveheraslighthug。
\"Whatareyouthinkingabout？\"hesaid。
\"I？Aboutnothingatall。Iamveryhappy！\"
\"Thenyoudon\'tloveme？\"
\"Oh，yes，Muscade，Iloveyou，Iloveyouagreatdeal；onlyleavemealone。Itistoobeautifulheretolistentoyournonsense。\"
Hedrewhertowardhim，althoughshetried，bylittlepushes，toextricateherself，andthroughhersoftflannelgownhefeltthewarmthofherflesh。Hestammered:
\"Yvette！\"
\"Well，what？\"
\"Idoloveyou！\"
\"Butyouarenotinearnest，Muscade。\"
\"Oh，yesIam。Ihavelovedyouforalongtime。\"
Shecontinuallykepttryingtoseparateherselffromhim，tryingtoreleasethearmcrushedbetweentheirbodies。Theywalkedwithdifficulty，trammeledbythisbondandbythesemovements，andwentzigzaggingalonglikedrunkenfolk。
Heknewnotwhattosaytoher，feelingthathecouldnottalktoayounggirlashewouldtoawoman。Hewasperplexed，thinkingwhatheoughttodo，wonderingifsheconsentedordidnotunderstand，andcurbinghisspirittofindjusttheright，tender，anddecisivewords。Hekeptsayingeverysecond:
\"Yvette！Speak！Yvette！\"
Then，suddenly，riskingall，hekissedheronthecheek。Shegavealittlestartaside，andsaidwithavexedair:
\"Oh！youareabsurd。Areyougoingtoletmealone？\"
Thetoneofhervoicedidnotatallrevealherthoughtsnorherwishes；and，notseeinghertooangry，heappliedhislipstothebeginningofherneck，justbeneaththegoldenhair，thatcharmingspotwhichhehadsooftencoveted。
Thenshemadegreateffortstofreeherself。Butheheldherstrongly，andplacinghisotherhandonhershoulder，hecompelledhertoturnherheadtowardhimandgaveherafond，passionatekiss，squarelyonthemouth。
Sheslippedfromhisarmsbyaquickundulationofthebody，and，freefromhisgrasp，shedisappearedintothedarknesswithagreatswishingofskirts，likethewhirofabirdasitfliesaway。
Hestoodmotionlessamoment，surprisedbyhersupplenessandherdisappearance，thenhearingnothing，hecalledgently:\"Yvette！\"
Shedidnotreply。Hebegantowalkforward，peeringthroughtheshadows，lookingintheunderbrushforthewhitespotherdressshouldmake。Allwasdark。Hecriedoutmoreloudly:
\"Mam\'zelleYvette！Mam\'zelleYvette！\"
Nothingstirred。Hestoppedandlistened。Thewholeislandwasstill；therewasscarcelyarustleofleavesoverhishead。Thefrogsalonecontinuedtheirdeepcroakingsontheshores。Thenhewanderedfromthickettothicket，goingwherethebanksweresteepandbushyandreturningtoplaceswheretheywereflatandbareasadeadman\'sarm。HeproceededuntilhewasoppositeBougivalandreachedtheestablishmentofLaGrenouillere，gropingtheclumpsoftrees，callingoutcontinually:
\"Mam\'zelleYvette，whereareyou？Answer。Itisridiculous！Come，answer！Don\'tkeepmehuntinglikethis。\"
Adistantclockbegantostrike。Hecountedthehours:twelve。Hehadbeensearchingthroughtheislandfortwohours。Thenhethoughtthatperhapsshehadgonehome；andhewentbackveryanxiously，thistimebywayofthebridge。Aservantdozingonachairwaswaitinginthehall。
Servignyawakenedhimandasked:\"IsitlongsinceMademoiselleYvettecamehome？IleftheratthefootoftheplacebecauseIhadacalltomake。\"
Andthevaletreplied:\"Oh！yes，Monsieur，Mademoisellecameinbeforeteno\'clock。\"
Heproceededtohisroomandwenttobed。Buthecouldnotclosehiseyes。Thatstolenkisshadstirredhimtothesoul。Hekeptwonderingwhatshethoughtandwhatsheknew。Howprettyandattractiveshewas！
Hisdesires，somewhatweariedbythelifeheled，byallhisprocessionofsweethearts，byallhisexplorationsinthekingdomoflove，awokebeforethissingularchild，sofresh，irritating，andinexplicable。Heheardoneo\'clockstrike，thentwo。Hecouldnotsleepatall。Hewaswarm，hefelthisheartbeatandhistemplesthrob，andherosetoopenthewindow。Abreathoffreshaircamein，whichheinhaleddeeply。Thethickdarknesswassilent，black，motionless。Butsuddenlyheperceivedbeforehim，intheshadowsofthegarden，ashiningpoint；itseemedalittleredcoal。
\"Well，acigar！\"hesaidtohimself。\"ItmustbeSaval，\"andhecalledsoftly:\"Leon！\"
\"Isityou，Jean？\"
\"Yes。Wait。I\'llcomedown。\"Hedressed，wentout，andrejoininghisfriendwhowassmokingastrideanironchair，inquired:\"Whatareyoudoinghereatthishour？\"
\"Iamresting，\"Savalreplied。Andhebegantolaugh。Servignypressedhishand:\"Mycompliments，mydearfellow。Andasforme，I——
ammakingafoolofmyself。\"
\"Youmean——\"
\"Imeanthat——Yvetteandhermotherdonotresembleeachother。\"
\"Whathashappened？Tellme。\"
Servignyrecountedhisattemptsandtheirfailure。Thenheresumed:
\"Decidedly，thatlittlegirlworriesme。Fancymynotbeingabletosleep！Whataqueerthingagirlis！Sheappearstobeassimpleasanything，andyetyouknownothingabouther。Awomanwhohaslivedandloved，whoknowslife，canbequicklyunderstood。Butwhenitcomestoayoungvirgin，onthecontrary，noonecanguessanythingabouther。AtheartIbegintothinkthatsheismakingsportofme。\"
Savaltiltedhischair。Hesaid，veryslowly:\"Takecare，mydearfellow，shewillleadyoutomarriage。Rememberthoseotherillustriousexamples。ItwasjustbythissameprocessthatMademoiselledeMontijo，whowasatleastofgoodfamily，becameempress。Don\'tplayNapoleon。\"
Servignymurmured:\"Asforthat，fearnothing。Iamneitherasimpletonnoranemperor。Amanmustbeeitheroneortheothertomakesuchamoveasthat。Buttellme，areyousleepy？\"
\"Notabit。\"
\"Willyoutakeawalkalongtheriver？\"
\"Gladly。\"
TheyopenedtheirongateandbegantowalkalongtheriverbanktowardMarly。Itwasthequiethourwhichprecedesdawn，thehourofdeepsleep，ofcompleterest，ofprofoundpeacefulness。Eventhegentlesoundsofthenightwerehushed。Thenightingalessangnolonger；thefrogshadfinishedtheirhubbub；somekindofananimalonly，probablyabird，wasmakingsomewhereakindofsawingsound，feeble，monotonous，andregularasamachine。Servigny，whohadmomentsofpoetry，andofphilosophytoo，suddenlyremarked:\"Nowthisgirlcompletelypuzzlesme。Inarithmetic，oneandonemaketwo。Inloveoneandoneoughttomakeonebuttheymaketwojustthesame。Haveyoueverfeltthat？Thatneedofabsorbingawomaninyourselfordisappearinginher？Iamnotspeakingoftheanimalembrace，butofthatmoralandmentaleagernesstobebutonewithabeing，toopentoherallone\'sheartandsoul，andtofathomherthoughtstothedepths。\"
\"Andyetyoucanneverlaybareallthefluctuationsofherwishes，desires，andopinions。Youcanneverguess，evenslightly，alltheunknowncurrents，allthemysteryofasoulthatseemssonear，asoulhiddenbehindtwoeyesthatlookatyou，clearaswater，transparentasiftherewerenothingbeneathasoulwhichtalkstoyoubyabelovedmouth，whichseemsyourveryown，sogreatlydoyoudesireit；asoulwhichthrowsyoubywordsitsthoughts，onebyone，andwhich，nevertheless，remainsfurtherawayfromyouthanthosestarsarefromeachother，andmoreimpenetrable。Isn\'titqueer，allthat？\"
\"Idon\'t，asksomuch，\"Savalrejoined。\"Idon\'tlookbehindtheeyes。Icarelittleforthecontents，butmuchforthevessel。\"AndServignyreplied:\"WhatasingularpersonYvetteis！Howwillshereceivemethismorning？\"
AstheyreachedtheworksatMarlytheyperceivedthattheskywasbrightening。Thecocksbegantocrowinthepoultry-yards。Abirdtwitteredinaparkattheleft，ceaselesslyreiteratingatenderlittletheme。
\"Itistimetogoback，\"saidSaval。
Theyreturned，andasServignyenteredhisroom，hesawthehorizonallpinkthroughhisopenwindows。
Thenheshuttheblinds，drewthethick，heavycurtains，wentbacktobedandfellasleep。HedreamedofYvetteallthroughhisslumber。Anoddnoiseawokehim。Hesatonthesideofthebedandlistened，butheardnothingfurther。Thensuddenlytherewasacracklingagainsttheblinds，likefallinghail。Hejumpedfromthebed，rantothewindow，openedit，andsawYvettestandinginthepathandthrowinghandfulsofgravelathisface。Shewascladinpink，withawide-brimmedstrawhatornamentedwithamousquetaireplume，andwaslaughingmischievously。
\"Well！Muscade，areyouasleep？Whatcouldyouhavebeendoingallnighttomakeyouwakesolate？Haveyoubeenseekingadventures，mypoorMuscade？\"
Hewasdazzledbythebrightdaylightstrikinghimfullintheeyes，stilloverwhelmedwithfatigue，andsurprisedatthejestingtranquillityoftheyounggirl。
\"I\'llbedowninasecond，Mam\'zelle，\"heanswered。\"Justtimetosplashmyfacewithwater，andIwilljoinyou。\"\"Hurry，\"shecried，\"itisteno\'clock，andbesidesIhaveagreatplantounfoldtoyou，aplotwearegoingtoconcoct。Youknowthatwebreakfastateleven。\"
Hefoundherseatedonabench，withabookinherlap，somenovelorother。Shetookhisarminafamiliarandfriendlyway，withafrankandgaymanner，asifnothinghadhappenedthenightbefore，anddrewhimtowardtheendofthegarden。
\"Thisismyplan，\"shesaid。\"Wewilldisobeymamma，andyoushalltakemepresentlytoLaGrenouillererestaurant。Iwanttoseeit。
Mammasaysthatdecentwomencannotgototheplace。Nowitisallthesametomewhetherpersonscangothereorcannot。You\'lltakeme，won\'tyou，Muscade？Andwewillhaveagreattime——withtheboatmen。\"
Sheexhaledadeliciousfragrance，althoughhecouldnotexactlydefinejustwhatlightandvagueodorenvelopedher。Itwasnotoneofthoseheavyperfumesofhermother，butadiscreetbreathinwhichhefanciedhecoulddetectasuspicionofirispowder，andperhapsasuggestionofvervain。
Whenceemanatedthatindiscernibleperfume？Fromherdress，herhair，orherskin？Hepuzzledoverthis，andashewasspeakingveryclosetoher，hereceivedfullinthefaceherfreshbreath，whichseemedtohimjustasdelicioustoinhale。
Thenhethoughtthatthisevasiveperfumewhichhewastryingtorecognizewasperhapsonlyevokedbyhercharmingeyes，andwasmerelyasortofdeceptiveemanationofheryoungandalluringgrace。
\"Thatisagreed，isn\'tit，Muscade？Asitwillbeverywarmafterbreakfast，mammawillnotgoout。Shealwaysfeelstheheatverymuch。Wewillleaveherwithyourfriend，andyoushalltakeme。
Theywillthinkthatwehavegoneintotheforest。IfyouknewhowmuchitwillamusemetoseeLaGrenouillere！\"
TheyreachedtheirongateoppositetheSeine。Afloodofsunshinefellupontheslumberous，shiningriver。Aslightheat-mistrosefromit，asortofhazeofevaporatedwater，whichspreadoverthesurfaceofthestreamafaintgleamingvapor。
Fromtimetotime，boatspassedby，aquickyawloraheavypassageboat，andshortorlongwhistlescouldbeheard，thoseofthetrainswhicheverySundaypouredthecitizensofParisintothesuburbs，andthoseofthesteamboatssignalingtheirapproachtopassthelocksatMarly。
Butatinybellsounded。Breakfastwasannounced，andtheywentbackintothehouse。Therepastwasasilentone。AheavyJulynoonoverwhelmedtheearth，andoppressedhumanity。Theheatseemedthick，andparalyzedbothmindandbody。Thesluggishwordswouldnotleavethelips，andallmotionseemedlaborious，asiftheairhadbecomearesistingmedium，difficulttotraverse。OnlyYvette，althoughsilent，seemedanimatedandnervouswithimpatience。Assoonastheyhadfinishedthelastcourseshesaid:
\"Ifweweretogoforawalkintheforest，itwouldbedeliciouslycoolunderthetrees。\"
TheMarquisemurmuredwithalistlessair:\"Areyoumad？Doesanyonegooutinsuchweather？\"
Andtheyounggirl，delighted，rejoined:\"Oh，well！WewillleavetheBarontokeepyoucompany。MuscadeandIwillclimbthehillandsitonthegrassandread。\"
AndturningtowardServignysheasked:\"Thatisunderstood？\"
\"Atyourservice，Mam\'zelle，\"hereplied。
Yvetterantogetherhat。TheMarquiseshruggedhershoulderswithasigh。\"Shecertainlyismad。\"shesaid。
Thenwithanindolenceinheramorousandlazygestures，shegaveherprettywhitehandtotheBaron，whokisseditsoftly。YvetteandServignystarted。Theywentalongtheriver，crossedthebridgeandwentontotheisland，andthenseatedthemselvesonthebank，beneaththewillows，foritwastoosoontogotoLaGrenouillere。
Theyounggirlatoncedrewabookfromherpocketandsmilinglysaid:\"Muscade，youaregoingtoreadtome。\"Andshehandedhimthevolume。
Hemadeamotionasifoffright。\"I，Mam\'zelle？Idon\'tknowhowtoread！\"
Sherepliedwithgravity:\"Come，noexcuses，noobjections；youareafinesuitor，you！Allfornothing，isthatit？Isthatyourmotto？\"
Hetookthebook，openedit，andwasastonished。Itwasatreatiseonentomology。AhistoryofantsbyanEnglishauthor。Andasheremainedinert，believingthathewasmakingsportofher，shesaidwithimpatience:\"Well，read！\"
\"Isitawager，orjustasimplefad？\"heasked。
\"No，mydear。Isawthatbookinashop。TheytoldmethatitwasthebestauthorityonantsandIthoughtthatitwouldbeinterestingtolearnaboutthelifeoftheselittleinsectswhileyouseethemrunningoverthegrass；soread，ifyouplease。\"
Shestretchedherselfflatuponthegrass，herelbowsrestingupontheground，herheadbetweenherhands，hereyesfixedupontheground。Hebegantoreadasfollows:
\"Theanthropoidapesareundoubtedlytheanimalswhichapproachnearesttomanbytheiranatomicalstructure，butifweconsiderthehabitsoftheants，theirorganizationintosocieties，theirvastcommunities，thehousesandroadsthattheyconstruct，theircustomofdomesticatinganimals，andsometimesevenofmakingslavesofthem，wearecompelledtoadmitthattheyhavetherighttoclaimaplaceneartomaninthescaleofintelligence。\"
Hecontinuedinamonotonousvoice，stoppingfromtimetotimetoask:\"Isn\'tthatenough？\"