ust above their heads, perched in one of the trees which hid them, the
bird was still singing. He uttered shakes and roulades, and then long,
vibrating sounds that filled the air and seemed to lose themselves in
the distance, across the level country, through that burning silence
which hung low upon the whole country round. They did not speak for
fear of frightening the bird away. They were sitting close together,
and slowly Henri's arm stole round the girl's waist and squeezed it
gently. She took that daring hand, but without anger, and kept removing
it whenever he put it round her; not, however, feeling at all
embarrassed by this caress, just as if it had been something quite
natural which she was resisting just as naturally.

She was listening to the bird in ecstasy. She felt an infinite longing
for happiness, for some sudden demonstration of tenderness, for a
revelation of divine poesy. She felt such a softening at her heart, and
such a relaxation of her nerves, that she began to cry, without knowing
why. The young man was now straining her close to him, and she did not
remove his arm; she did not think of it. Suddenly the nightingale
stopped, and a voice called out in the distance:

"Henriette!"

"Do not reply," he said in a low voice, "you will drive the bird away."

But she had no idea of doing so, and they remained in the same position
for some time. Madame Dufour had sat down somewhere or other, for from
time to time they heard the stout lady break out into little bursts of
laughter.

The girl was still crying; she was filled with strange sensations.
Henri's head was on her shoulder, and suddenly he kissed her on the
lips. She was surprised and angry, and, to avoid him, she stood up.

They were both very pale when they quitted their grassy retreat. The
blue sky looked dull to them, the ardent sun was clouded over to their
eyes, they perceived not the solitude and the silence. They walked
quickly side by side, without speaking or touching each other,
appearing to be irreconcilable enemies, as if disgust had sprung up
between them, and hatred between their souls. From time to time
Henriette called out: "Mamma!"

By and by they heard a noise in a thicket, and Madame Dufour appeared,
looking rather confused, and her companion's face was wrinkled with
smiles that he could not check.

Madame Dufour took his arm, and they returned to the boats. Henri went
on first, still without speaking, by the girl's side,