brightened with a
drop of wine."

Germain was mortified at being thought already in love, and the
artificial manner of the widow, who kept lowering her eyes with a
smile as a woman does who is sure of her calculations, made him long to
protest against his pretended surrender; but fearing to appear uncivil,
he smiled and held his peace.

He thought the widow's beaus, three bumpkins. They must have been rich
for her to admit of their pretensions. One was over forty, and fat as
Father Leonard; another had lost an eye, and drank like a sot. The
third was a young fellow, and nice-looking too; but he kept insisting on
displaying his wit, and would say things so silly that they were
painful to hear. Yet the widow laughed as though she admired all his
foolishness, and made small proof of her good taste thereby. At first
Germain thought her infatuated with him, but soon he perceived that
he himself was especially encouraged, and that they wished him to make
fresh advances. For this reason he felt an increasing stiffness and
severity which he took no pains to conceal.

The time came for mass, and they rose from table to go thither in
company. It was necessary to walk as far as Mers, a good half-league
away, and Germain was so tired that he longed to take a nap before they
went; but he was not in the habit of missing mass, and he started with
the others.

The roads were filled with people, and the widow marched proudly along,
escorted by her three suitors, taking an arm, first of one and then of
another, and carrying her head high with an air of importance. She was
eager to display the fourth to the eyes of the passers-by; but Germain
felt so ridiculous to be dragged along in the train of a petticoat
where all the world might see, that he kept at a respectable distance,
chatting with Father Leonard, and succeeded in occupying his attention
so well that they did not look at all as if they belonged to the party.

XII -- The Master

WHEN they reached the village, the widow halted to allow them to catch
up. She was bent upon making her entry with all her train; but Germain,
denying her this pleasure, deserted Father Leonard, and after conversing
with several acquaintances, he entered the church by another door. The
widow was vexed.

When mass was over, she made her appearance in triumph on the lawn,
where dancing was going on, and she began her dance with her three
lovers in turn. Germain watched her and saw that she da