n. I live in a suburb, at the beginning of the Pernes Road,
far from the tumult of the town [of Carpentras where Fabre was a master
at the college]. Twenty yards in front of my house, some pleasure
gardens have been opened, bearing a signboard inscribed, 'The Pagoda.'
Here, on Sunday afternoons, the lads and lasses from the neighboring
farms come to disport themselves in country dances. To attract custom
and push the sale of refreshments, the proprietor of the ball ends
the Sunday hop with a tombola. Two hours beforehand, he has the prizes
carried along the public roads, preceded by fifes and drums. From a
beribboned pole, borne by a stalwart fellow in a red sash, dangle a
plated goblet, a handkerchief of Lyons silk, a pair of candlesticks and
some packets of cigars. Who would not enter the pleasure gardens, with
such a bait?

'Br-r-r-rum! Br-r-r-rum! Br-r-r-rum!' goes the procession.

It comes just under my window, wheels to the right and marches into the
establishment, a huge wooden booth, hung with evergreens. And now, if
you dislike noise, flee, flee as far as you can. Until nightfall, the
ophicleides will bellow, the fifes tootle and the cornets bray. How
would you deduce the steps of Kepler's laws to the accompaniment of that
noisy orchestra! It is enough to drive one mad. Let us be off with all
speed.

A mile away, I know a flinty waste beloved of the wheatear and the
locust. Here reigns perfect calm; moreover, there are some clumps of
evergreen oak which will lend me their scanty shade. I take my book,
a few sheets of paper and a pencil and fly to this solitude. What
beauteous silence, what exquisite quiet! But the sun is overwhelming,
under the meager cover of the bushes. Cheerily, my lad! Have at your
Kepler's laws in the company of the blue-winged locusts. You will return
home with your problems solved, but with a blistered skin. An overdose
of sun in the neck shall be the outcome of grasping the law of the
areas. One thing makes up for another.

During the rest of the week, I have my Thursdays and the evenings, which
I employ in study until I drop with sleep. All told I have no lack of
time, despite the drudgery of my college ties. The great thing is not
to be discouraged by the unavoidable difficulties encountered at
the outset. I lose my way easily in that dense forest overgrown with
creepers that have to be cut away with the axe to obtain a clearing. A
fortunate turn or two; and I once more know where