In this way the old friendship grew closer than ever, and a charming life began afresh.  To Helene it seemed as if Henri had never yielded to that moment of folly; it was but a dream of hers; each loved the other, but they would never breathe a word of their love, they were content with knowing its existence.  They spent delicious hours, in which, without their tongues giving evidence of their passion, they displayed it constantly; a gesture, an inflexion of the voice sufficed, ay, even a silence.  Everything insensibly tended towards their love, plunged them more and more deeply into a passion which they bore away with them whenever they parted, which was ever with them, which formed, as it were, the only atmosphere they could breathe.  And their excuse was their honesty; with eyes wide open they played this comedy of affection; not even a hand-clasp did they allow each other and their restraint infused unalloyed delight into the simple greetings with which they met.

Every evening the ladies went to church.  Madame Deberle was enchanted with the novel pleasure she was enjoying.  It was so different from evening dances, concerts, and first nights; she adored fresh sensations, and nuns and priests were now constantly in her company.  The store of religion which she had acquired in her school-days now found new life in her giddy brain, taking shape in all sorts of trivial observances, as though she were reviving the games of her childhood.  Helene, who on her side had grown up without any religious training, surrendered herself to the bliss of these services of the month of Mary, happy also in the delight with which they appeared to inspire Jeanne.  They now dined earlier; they gave Rosalie no peace lest she should cause them to be late, and prevent their securing good seats.  Then they called for Juliette on the way.  One day Lucien was taken, but he behaved so badly that he was afterward left at home.  On entering the warm church, with its glare of wax candles, a feeling of tenderness and calm, which by degrees grew necessary to Helene, came over her.  When doubts sprang up within her during the day, and the thought of Henri filled her with indefinable anxiety, with the evening the church once more brought her peace.  The chants arose overflowing with divine passion; the flowers, newly culled, made the close atmosphere of the building still heavier.  It was here that she breathed all the first rapture of springtide, amidst that adoration of woman raised to the status of a cult; and her senses swam as she contemplated the mystery of love and purity—­Mary, virgin and mother, beaming beneath her wreath of white roses.  Each day she remained longer on her knees.  She found herself at times with hands joined in entreaty.  When the ceremony came to an end, there followed the happiness of the return home.  Henri awaited their appearance at the door; the evenings grew warmer, and they wended their way through the dark, still streets of Passy, while scarce a word passed between them.