Silvere, who had been chilled by the workmen’s gross jests and insults, felt tears rise to his eyes at the last words spoken by Vian.  However, he did not open his lips.  He took up his hammer, which he had laid down near him, and began with all his might to strike the nave of a wheel which he was binding with iron.

In the evening, as soon as he had returned home from the workshop, he ran to the wall and climbed upon it.  He found Miette engaged upon the same labour as the day before.  He called her.  She came to him, with her smile of embarrassment, and the charming shyness of a child who from infancy had grown up in tears.

“You’re La Chantegreil, aren’t you?” he asked her, abruptly.

She recoiled, she ceased smiling, and her eyes turned sternly black, gleaming with defiance.  So this lad was going to insult her, like the others!  She was turning her back upon him, without giving an answer, when Silvere, perplexed by her sudden change of countenance, hastened to add:  “Stay, I beg you—­I don’t want to pain you—­I’ve got so many things to tell you!”

She turned round, still distrustful.  Silvere, whose heart was full, and who had resolved to relieve it, remained for a moment speechless, not knowing how to continue, for he feared lest he should commit a fresh blunder.  At last he put his whole heart in one phrase:  “Would you like me to be your friend?” he said, in a voice full of emotion.  And as Miette, in surprise, raised her eyes, which were again moist and smiling, he continued with animation:  “I know that people try to vex you.  It’s time to put a stop to it.  I will be your protector now.  Shall I?”

The child beamed with delight.  This proffered friendship roused her from all her evil dreams of taciturn hatred.  Still she shook her head and answered:  “No, I don’t want you to fight on my account.  You’d have too much to do.  Besides which, there are persons from whom you cannot protect me.”

Silvere wished to declare that he would defend her against the whole world, but she closed his mouth with a coaxing gesture, as she added:  “I am satisfied to have you as a friend.”

They then conversed together for a few minutes, lowering their voices as much as possible.  Miette spoke to Silvere of her uncle and her cousin.  For all the world she would not have liked them to catch him astride the coping of the wall.  Justin would be implacable with such a weapon against her.  She spoke of her misgivings with the fright of a schoolgirl on meeting a friend with whom her mother has forbidden her to associate.  Silvere merely understood, however, that he would not be able to see Miette at his pleasure.  This made him very sad.  Still, he promised that he would not climb upon the wall any more.  They were both endeavouring to find some expedient for seeing each other again, when Miette suddenly begged him to go away; she had just caught sight of Justin, who was crossing the grounds in the