e other under him, scoffingly exclaimed: 'I
have a good mind to break one of your arms. You see that it isn't you
who are the stronger, but that it is I who am exterminating you.... Now
I'm going to cut your ears off. You have tried my endurance too far.'

Jeanbernat calmly drew his knife from his pocket. But Abbe Mouret, who
had several times attempted to part the combatants, now raised such
strenuous opposition to the old man's design that he consented to defer
the operation till another time.

'You are acting foolishly, Cure,' said he. 'It would do this scoundrel
good to be well bled; but, since it seems to displease you, I'll wait a
little longer; I shall be meeting him again in some quiet corner.'

And as the Brother broke out into a growl, Jeanbernat cried
threateningly: 'If you don't keep still I will cut your ears off at
once!'

'But you are sitting on his chest,' said the priest, 'get up and let him
breathe.'

'No, no; he would begin his tomfoolery again. I will give him his
liberty when I go away, but not before.... Well, I was telling you,
Cure, when this good-for-nothing interrupted us, that you would be very
welcome yonder. The little one is mistress, you know; I don't attempt
to interfere with her any more than I do with my salad-plants. There are
only fools like this croaker here who see any harm in it. Where did you
see anything wrong, scoundrel? It was yourself who imagined it, villain
that you are!'

And thereupon he gave the Brother another shaking. 'Let him get up,'
begged Abbe Mouret.

'By-and-by. The little one has not been well for a long time. I did not
notice anything myself, but she told me; and now I am on my way to tell
your uncle Pascal, at Plassans. I like the night for walking; it is
quiet, and, as a rule, one isn't delayed by meeting people.... Yes, yes,
the little one is quite ailing.'

The priest could not find a word to say. He staggered, and his head
sank.

'It made her so happy to look after you,' continued the old man. 'While
I smoked my pipe I used to hear her laugh. That was quite sufficient for
me. Girls are like the hawthorns; when they break out into blossom, they
do all they can. Well, now, you will come, if your heart prompts you to
it. I am sure it would please the little one. Good night, Cure.'

He got up slowly, keeping a firm grasp of the Brother's wrists, to
guard against any treacherous attack. Then he proceeded on his way, with
swinging strides, without on