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？"