at one and the same moment. I can remember that I showed it to a
cow, which was browsing by the wayside, exclaiming at the same time:
"Look at that, my old beauty, you shall not often see its like again."

When I had reached the front of the house, I immediately called out to
Mother Lecacheur, shouting with all my might:

"Ohe! Ohe! my mistress, come here and look at this."

The rustic advanced and regarded my work with her stupid eyes which
distinguished nothing, and which did not even recognize whether the
picture was the representation of an ox or a house.

Miss Harriet returned to the house, and she passed in rear of me just at
the moment when, holding out my canvas at arm's length, I was exhibiting
it to the female innkeeper. The demoniac could not help but see it, for
I took care to exhibit the thing in such a way that it could not escape
her notice. She stopped abruptly and stood motionless, stupefied. It was
her rock which was depicted, the one which she climbed to dream away her
time undisturbed.

She uttered a British "Aoh," which was at once so accentuated and so
flattering, that I turned round to her, smiling, and said:

"This is my last work, Mademoiselle."

She murmured ecstatically, comically and tenderly:

"Oh! Monsieur, you must understand what it is to have a palpitation."

I colored up, of course, and was more excited by that compliment than if
it had come from a queen. I was seduced, conquered, vanquished. I could
have embraced her; upon my honor.

I took a seat at the table beside her, as I had always done. For the
first time, she spoke, drawling out in a loud voice:

"Oh! I love nature so much."

I offered her some bread, some water, some wine. She now accepted these
with the vacant smile of a mummy. I then began to converse with her
about the scenery.

After the meal, we rose from the table together and we walked leisurely
across the court; then, being attracted by the fiery glow which the
setting sun cast over the surface of the sea, I opened the outside gate
which opened in the direction of the Falaise, and we walked on side by
side, as satisfied as any two persons could be, who have just learned to
understand and penetrate each other's motives and feelings.

It was a muggy, relaxing evening, one of those enjoyable evenings, which
impart happiness to mind and body alike. All is joy, all is charm. The
luscious and balmy air, loaded with the perfumes of herbs, the perfumes
of grass