h upon the ground. He uttered a
frightened cry.

"What! Are you here?"

Clotilde did not deign even to answer. She was lying on her back, her
hands clasped under the back of her neck, her face turned toward the
sky; and in her pale countenance, only her large shining eyes were
visible.

"And here I have been tormenting myself and calling you for an hour
past! Did you not hear me shouting?"

She at last unclosed her lips.

"Yes."

"Then that is very senseless! Why did you not answer me?"

But she fell back into her former silence, refusing all explanation, and
with a stubborn brow kept her gaze fixed steadily on the sky.

"There, come in and go to bed, naughty child. You will tell me
to-morrow."

She did not stir, however; he begged her ten times over to go into the
house, but she would not move. He ended by sitting down beside her on
the short grass, through which penetrated the warmth of the pavement
beneath.

"But you cannot sleep out of doors. At least answer me. What are you
doing here?"

"I am looking."

And from her large eyes, fixed and motionless, her gaze seemed to mount
up among the stars. She seemed wholly absorbed in the contemplation of
the pure starry depths of the summer sky.

"Ah, master!" she continued, in a low monotone; "how narrow and limited
is all that you know compared to what there is surely up there. Yes,
if I did not answer you it was because I was thinking of you, and I was
filled with grief. You must not think me bad."

In her voice there was a thrill of such tenderness that it moved him
profoundly. He stretched himself on the grass beside her, so that their
elbows touched, and they went on talking.

"I greatly fear, my dear, that your griefs are not rational. It gives
you pain to think of me. Why so?"

"Oh, because of things that I should find it hard to explain to you; I
am not a _savante_. You have taught me much, however, and I have learned
more myself, being with you. Besides, they are things that I feel.
Perhaps I might try to tell them to you, as we are all alone here, and
the night is so beautiful."

Her full heart overflowed, after hours of meditation, in the peaceful
confidence of the beautiful night. He did not speak, fearing to disturb
her, but awaited her confidences in silence.

"When I was a little girl and you used to talk to me about science, it
seemed to me that you were speaking to me of God, your words burned so
with faith and hope. Nothing seemed