ll! he
dotes on poppies. He is very clever at picking them out from the other
weeds. The other day he got the colic. So I took him and kept him warm
in my pocket. Since then he has been quite frisky.'

She poked her fingers through the wire netting and stroked the rabbits'
backs.

'Wouldn't you say it was satin?' she continued. 'They are dressed like
princes. And ain't they coquettish! Look, there's one who is always
cleaning himself. He wears the fur off his paws.... If only you knew how
funny they are! I say nothing, but I see all their little games. That
grey one looking at us, for instance, used to hate a little doe, which
I had to put somewhere else. There were terrible scenes between them.
It would take too long to tell you all, but the last time he gave her
a drubbing, when I came up in a rage, what do you think I saw? Why that
rascal huddled up at the back there as if he was just at his last gasp.
He wanted to make me believe that it was he who had to complain of her.'

Then Desiree paused to apostrophise the rabbit. 'Yes, you may listen to
me; you're a rogue!' And turning towards her brother, 'He understands
all I say,' she added softly, with a wink.

But Abbe Mouret could stand it no longer. He was perturbed by the heat
that emanated from the litters, the life that crawled under the hair
plucked from the does' bellies, exhaling powerful emanations. On the
other hand, Desiree, as if slowly intoxicated, was growing brighter and
pinker.

'But there's nothing to take you away!' she cried; 'you always seem
anxious to go off. You must see my little chicks! They were born last
night.'

She took some rice and threw a handful before her. The hen gravely drew
near, clucking to the little band of chickens that followed her chirping
and scampering as if in bewilderment. When they were fairly in the
middle of the scattered rice the hen eagerly pecked at it, and threw
down the grains she cracked, while her little ones hastily began to
feed. All the charm of infancy was theirs. Half-naked as it were, with
round heads, eyes sparkling like steel needles, beaks so queerly set,
and down so quaintly ruffled up, they looked like penny toys. Desiree
laughed with enjoyment at sight of them.

'What little loves they are!' she stammered.

She took up two of them, one in each hand, and smothered them with eager
kisses. And then the priest had to inspect them all over, while she
coolly said to him:

'It isn't easy to tell th