years. And now it's nearly over. What a bore!"

Claude felt exhilarated too. The day was so bright, so alive, seemed
full of wildness and gaiety and lusty freedom.

"Let us enjoy what is left!" he said.

She stole a side glance at him as he swung along by her. How would it be
to be married to a man like him--a man with his way to make?

They came down to the bridge, escaping from the bustle of the city. From
the fir woods the clarions sounded louder, calling to each other like
bold and triumphant voices.

"Have you got those in your opera?" she asked him.

"I shall have them."

"Of course."

They talked a little about the libretto as they crossed the bridge, with
the sound of the water in their ears.

"It is good to be out of the city!" Claude said, as they came to the
rubble of the unfinished track on the farther side, where Arabs worked
under the supervision of a French overseer. "I did not know you were a
walker."

"I don't think you knew very much about me."

"That's quite true. Where do you wish to go?"

"Anywhere--to the left. Let us sit on a rock under the trees and look at
the view."

"Can you get up here?"

"If you give me your hand."

They walked a little way in the shadow of the fir-trees, leaving the
hospital on their right. The plantation was almost deserted. The
soldiers were evidently retiring, for the clarions sounded more distant
now. Here and there the figure of an Arab was visible sauntering slowly
among the trees, with the smoke of his cigarette dispersing above him.
Some young Jews went by, holding hands, laughing and talking. They sent
glances of hard inquiry at Mrs. Shiffney's broad figure from their too
intelligent eyes. Soon their thin forms vanished among the gray trunks.

"Shall we sit there?" asked Claude.

"Yes; just in the sun."

"Oh, but you wanted--"

"No, let us sit in the sun."

She opened her green parasol.

Almost at the edge of the cliff, which descended steeply to the high
road to Philippeville, was a flat ledge of rock warmed by the sunbeams.

"It's perfect here," she said, sitting down. "And what a view!"

They were exactly opposite to the terrific Grand Rocher, a gray and pale
yellow precipice, with the cascades and the Grand Moulin at its foot,
the last houses of the city perched upon its summit in the sky.

"And to think that women have been flung from there!" said Claude,
clasping his hands round his knees.

"Unfaithful women! Rather hard on t