naces for the sale, will
complete their dwellings this evening and expect to celebrate in the
morning. They call it watering the bouquet, and it is the occasion of a
little festival, to which we, as well at the presiding officials of the
cutting, are invited. Naturally, the guests pay their share in bottles
of wine. You can hardly be excused from showing yourself among these
good people. It is one of the customs of the country. I have promised
to be there, and it is certain that Reine Vincart, who has bought the
Ronces property, will not fail to be present at the ceremony."

Julien had already the words on his lips for declining Claudet's offer,
when the name of Reine Vincart produced an immediate change in his
resolution. It just crossed his mind that perhaps Claudet had thrown
out her name as a bait and an argument in favor of his theories on the
facility of love-affairs in the country. However that might be, the
allusion to the probable presence of Mademoiselle Vincart at the coming
fete, rendered young Buxieres more tractable, and he made no further
difficulties about accompanying his cousin.

The next morning, after partaking hastily of breakfast, they started
on their way toward the cutting. The charcoal-dealers had located
themselves on the border of the forest, not far from the spot where,
in the month of January, Reine and Julien had visited the wood cutters.
Under the sheltering branches of a great ash tree, the newly erected
but raised its peaked roof covered with clods of turf, and two furnaces,
just completed, occupied the ground lately prepared. One of them, ready
for use, was covered with the black earth called 'frazil', which is
extracted from the site of old charcoal works; the other, in course of
construction, showed the successive layers of logs ranged in circles
inside, ready for the fire. The workmen moved around, going and coming;
first, the head-man or patron, a man of middle age, of hairy chest,
embrowned visage, and small beady eyes under bushy eyebrows; his wife,
a little, shrivelled, elderly woman; their daughter, a thin awkward
girl of seventeen, with fluffy hair and a cunning, hard expression;
and finally, their three boys, robust young fellows, serving their
apprenticeship at the trade. This party was reenforced by one or
two more single men, and some of the daughters of the woodchoppers,
attracted by the prospect of a day of dancing and joyous feasting.

These persons were sauntering in