at his father was fondling him.

Parent felt the warmth of the little chest penetrate through his
clothes, and it filled him with love, courage, and happiness; that
gentle warmth soothed him, fortified him and saved him. Then he put
the small, curly head away from him a little, and looked at it
affectionately, still repeating: "George! Oh, my little George!" But
suddenly he thought:

"Suppose he were to resemble Limousin, after all!" He looked at him
with haggard, troubled eyes, and tried to discover whether there was any
likeness in his forehead, in his nose, mouth, or cheeks. His thoughts
wandered as they do when a person is going mad, and his child's
face changed in his eyes, and assumed a strange look and improbable
resemblances.

The hall bell rang. Parent gave a bound as if a bullet had gone through
him. "There she is," he said. "What shall I do?" And he ran and locked
himself up in his room, to have time to bathe his eyes. But in a few
moments another ring at the bell made him jump again, and then he
remembered that Julie had left, without the housemaid knowing it, and
so nobody would go to open the door. What was he to do? He went himself,
and suddenly he felt brave, resolute, ready for dissimulation and the
struggle. The terrible blow had matured him in a few moments. He wished
to know the truth, he desired it with the rage of a timid man, and with
the tenacity of an easy-going man who has been exasperated.

Nevertheless, he trembled. Does one know how much excited cowardice
there often is in boldness? He went to the door with furtive steps,
and stopped to listen; his heart beat furiously. Suddenly, however,
the noise of the bell over his head startled him like an explosion. He
seized the lock, turned the key, and opening the door, saw his wife and
Limousin standing before him on the stairs.

With an air of astonishment, which also betrayed a little irritation,
she said:

"So you open the door now? Where is Julie?"

His throat felt tight and his breathing was labored as he tried to.
reply, without being able to utter a word.

"Are you dumb?" she continued. "I asked you where Julie is?"

"She--she--has--gone----" he managed to stammer.

His wife began to get angry. "What do you mean by gone? Where has she
gone? Why?"

By degrees he regained his coolness. He felt an intense hatred rise up
in him for that insolent woman who was standing before him.

"Yes, she has gone altogether. I sent her away."