They ended by speaking.  A kind of rapid friendship had become established between them, a daily freemasonry of half an hour, and that was certainly one of the most charming half hours in his life to him.  He thought of her all the rest of the day, saw her image continually during the long office hours.  He was haunted and bewitched by that floating and yet tenacious recollection which the form of a beloved woman leaves in us, and it seemed to him that if he could win that little person it would be maddening happiness to him, almost above human realization.

Every morning she now shook hands with him, and he preserved the sense of that touch and the recollection of the gentle pressure of her little fingers until the next day, and he almost fancied that he preserved the imprint on his palm.  He anxiously waited for this short omnibus ride, while Sundays seemed to him heartbreaking days.  However, there was no doubt that she loved him, for one Saturday, in spring, she promised to go and lunch with him at Maisons-Laffitte the next day.

II

She was at the railway station first, which surprised him, but she said:  “Before going, I want to speak to you.  We have twenty minutes, and that is more than I shall take for what I have to say.”

She trembled as she hung on his arm, and looked down, her cheeks pale, as she continued:  “I do not want you to be deceived in me, and I shall not go there with you, unless you promise, unless you swear—­not to do—­not to do anything—­that is at all improper.”

She had suddenly become as red as a poppy, and said no more.  He did not know what to reply, for he was happy and disappointed at the same time.  He should love her less, certainly, if he knew that her conduct was light, but then it would be so charming, so delicious to have a little flirtation.

As he did not say anything, she began to speak again in an agitated voice and with tears in her eyes.  “If you do not promise to respect me altogether, I shall return home.”  And so he squeezed her arm tenderly and replied:  “I promise, you shall only do what you like.”  She appeared relieved in mind, and asked, with a smile:  “Do you really mean it?” And he looked into her eyes and replied:  “I swear it” “Now you may take the tickets,” she said.

During the journey they could hardly speak, as the carriage was full, and when they reached Maisons-Laffite they went toward the Seine.  The sun, which shone full on the river, on the leaves and the grass, seemed to be reflected in their hearts, and they went, hand in hand, along the bank, looking at the shoals of little fish swimming near the bank, and they walked on, brimming over with happiness, as if they were walking on air.

At last she said:  “How foolish you must think me!”

“Why?” he asked.  “To come out like this, all alone with you.”