abbey-nave | near-youth
Part
501 III| with that man standing near her. She certainly did not
502 II| irreparable and drawing nearer every day, and which was
503 II| the purchase of provisions necessary for the household; so that,
504 I| crowed, the cocks in all the neighboring farmyards replied to him,
505 III| feeling astonished and nervous, without knowing why.~"Sit
506 III| under the reflection of this new day, and she limped on slowly
507 II| told the farmer her bad news, and he allowed her to go
508 I| walk, and said: "It is not nice of you to despise me like
509 III| bewildered, and had the nightmare; her candle went out, and
510 I| was asleep, she went out noiselessly in her petticoat, with bare
511 I| toward the village in the north which she had left.~Suddenly,
512 II| know whether anybody would notice a change in her, and, during
513 III| stretched out its arms to its nurse as soon as it saw her. But
514 IV| years he seemed to have been nursing some secret anxiety, to
515 V| daylight. As she did not obey him, he seized her by the
516 V| night he flung insults and obscenities at her, choking with rage,
517 III| it out, with his brutish obstinacy, and, as it were, scratching
518 III| farmer, a stout, jovial, obstinate man of forty-five, who had
519 I| day, however, she tried to obtain some information without
520 V| ate the whole loaf without obtaining any results from it.~Next,
521 IV| would fall on the first occasion. Her husband gave her the
522 I| rather overcome by the stale odor from the earthen floor,
523 II| peasants' tricks when they offered anything for sale, he, at
524 II| economized in the bread, oil and candles; in the corn,
525 I| herrings and strings of onions, and then she sat down,
526 I| while beyond the slope the open country could be seen, where
527 III| over the fields. Instead of opening the gate she scrambled over
528 I| breath, as she felt rather oppressed, without exactly knowing
529 V| making her suffer more he ordered her to get up and go and
530 V| asked the cure about an orphan some time ago."~Then, still
531 II| morning long before the others and persistently tried to
532 I| then she sat down, rather overcome by the stale odor from the
533 III| scudding before the wind. An owl hooted; she shivered, sat
534 II| parted from her child. What pained her most, however, was the
535 II| continually, to judge from the painful manner in which it moved
536 III| in when sharp, pricking pains in her ankles made her jump
537 III| settling in life?" She grew as pale as death, and, seeing that
538 I| mingled the sour smell of the pans of milk which were set out
539 III| The girl was worn out and panting; and when the sun rose in
540 II| trembling with that piece of paper, covered with ink, in her
541 I| shrewd enough to beg her pardon; so they sat down side by
542 IV| she rang the bell of the parsonage. The priest was just sitting
543 II| minute, because she was parted from her child. What pained
544 II| she wished to speak to him particularly. He raised his head in surprise,
545 III| the cunning peasant, who partly guessed the truth; and she
546 III| barked as they heard her pass; one even jumped over the
547 I| ditch, there was a large patch of violets, whose fragrance
548 III| her child; she only wanted peace, complete rest, and to sleep
549 III| who is the fellow? Some penniless, half-starved ragamuffin,
550 II| long before the others and persistently tried to look at her figure
551 II| monopolized the work and persuaded him to get rid of one servant
552 III| feeling of delicious coolness pervaded her from head to foot, and
553 I| laborers, a tall fellow from Picardy, who had been making love
554 I| Three venturesome hens were picking up the crumbs under the
555 III| she exclaimed. "Then it is Pierre Martin?" "Oh! no, master."~
556 V| priest advised them to make a pilgrimage to the shrine at Fecamp.
557 II| church she hid behind a pillar, and no longer ventured
558 II| her like the prick of a pin; and, in order to forget
559 V| a glass of water with a pinch of ashes in it every evening.
560 IV| felt as if she were in a pit with inaccessible sides
561 I| with clumps of trees in places, and groups of laborers
562 I| began between them. They plagued one another in corners;
563 III| farmer suddenly came and planted himself before her. "Well,"
564 V| left; I should not mind a plateful."~She put on her petticoat
565 I| mantelpiece and put the plates on the high dresser close
566 III| caresses.~She took the greatest pleasure in handling it, in washing
567 III| pulled off her stockings and plunged her legs into the still
568 II| however, she put it into her pocket, as she did not venture
569 II| holding his knife, with its point in the air, in one, and
570 III| looking fixedly at the deep pool, she was seized with dizziness,
571 III| The man got as red as a poppy, and stammered out in a
572 II| watching her.~One morning the postman brought her a letter, and
573 I| while the smell of the poultry yard and the warmth from
574 II| she attributed superhuman powers, which enabled him to read
575 III| confess it, you slut! And pray who is the fellow? Some
576 V| peasants around her, she prayed that she might be fruitful
577 V| abbey, and, mingling her prayers with the coarse desires
578 II| found out by the cowherd, a precocious and cunning little lad,
579 V| her husband was also aging prematurely, and was wearing himself
580 IV| choir, for the sacristan was preparing the tabernacle lamp for
581 I| straw above his horses. He pretended to snore when he heard her
582 III| as if it had been some prey, and kissed it so violently
583 II| bargains, of getting high prices for all their produce, and
584 II| seemed to hurt her like the prick of a pin; and, in order
585 III| her self in when sharp, pricking pains in her ankles made
586 V| schoolmaster unveiled mysteries and processes of love which were unknown
587 II| high prices for all their produce, and by baffling the peasants'
588 III| Did you ever give him your promise, eh?"~This time she looked
589 I| she did not believe his promises. "It must be at once," she
590 III| the next morning accept a proposal which she could never have
591 I| bleeding had stopped, he proposed a walk, as he was afraid
592 II| her direction, the farm prospered wonderfully, and for five
593 V| went with the crowd and prostrated herself in the abbey, and,
594 III| natures and very imperfectly protected by the undecided will of
595 I| like that, Jacques." He protested, however. No, he did not
596 I| while the cock stood up proudly in their midst. When he
597 II| and with the purchase of provisions necessary for the household;
598 IV| that it is, but it is very provoking, all the same."~
599 III| as not to be seen by any prowling scamp, for the moon, which
600 V| thought that she was being punished for her first fault, and
601 II| the laborers, and with the purchase of provisions necessary
602 III| when the sun rose in the purple sky, she stopped, for her
603 I| fresh access of desire, and, putting his lips to her ear, he
604 V| names and beat her. They quarrelled all day long, and when they
605 II| and when she was asked a question, did not appear to understand;
606 II| cry by herself, for these questions seemed to hurt her like
607 III| straight before her, with a quick, springy trot, and from
608 III| me, master?" And he said quickly: "Why, to marry me, by Heaven!"~
609 III| will of inert and gentle races. She turned her head now
610 I| the black clay walls, the rafters that were blackened with
611 III| penniless, half-starved ragamuffin, without a roof to his head,
612 V| stand out of doors in the rain until daylight. As she did
613 III| interrupted her: "At any rate, he used to follow you into
614 IV| on her knees. The chain rattled as the little lamp swung
615 III| face with a murderer and ready to flee at the slightest
616 I| which was the beginning of a real love for that tall, strong
617 II| made her so incapable of reasoning that she did not even try
618 V| Then in her despair she rebelled, and flinging him against
619 II| letter, and as she had never received one in her life before she
620 III| months old, and she did not recognize it. It had grown rosy and
621 III| with fear, but immediately recognized the farmer's voice, when
622 I| youthful days, of their recollections, of their relations, who
623 III| looked like blood under the reflection of this new day, and she
624 III| consequences, no girl would refuse her master on that account.
625 III| stopped, for her swollen feet refused to go any farther; but she
626 II| at those lines written at regular intervals, and which terminated
627 I| recollections, of their relations, who had left them for a
628 I| it, by Heaven!"~Then she released her grasp and went away
629 IV| and did not venture to remain alone with him after the
630 III| though, at moments, she remembered something of what had happened,
631 III| She began to cry, and repeated: "I cannot." He looked at
632 V| kitchen with long strides, repeating:~"Well, I am really glad
633 I| stretch her limbs and to repose in the warm, breathless
634 II| well. He acceded to her request immediately, and then added,
635 III| could she say? She did not resist, for what could she do?~
636 III| did not consent, but she resisted carelessly struggling against
637 I| inspired him with a feeling of respect and of a very different
638 V| loaf without obtaining any results from it.~Next, a schoolmaster
639 II| he was tall, handsome and rich. When was the wedding to
640 III| from which bubbles were rising here and there.~A feeling
641 II| and she fell down by the roadside and remained there till
642 IV| impression of a man whom she had robbed, and who would find it out
643 IV| over her head, like huge rocks, which would fall on the
644 III| all over, like a little roll of fat. She threw herself
645 III| half-starved ragamuffin, without a roof to his head, I suppose?
646 I| round them, and the thatched roofs, on which grew blue and
647 III| recognize it. It had grown rosy and chubby all over, like
648 IV| at times he answered her roughly, almost angrily.~One day,
649 V| run away, but the farmer rubbed his hands and said: "I wanted
650 III| did not venture to invoke sacred things, but he interrupted
651 IV| footsteps in the choir, for the sacristan was preparing the tabernacle
652 V| not saying it for form's sake, but I am glad, I am really
653 II| they offered anything for sale, he, at last, entrusted
654 II| she sought some way of saving up money for it, and determined
655 III| be seen by any prowling scamp, for the moon, which was
656 I| for fear of creating a scandal. One morning, however, she
657 V| none together."~She was so scared that if she had had the
658 III| was choking, and she grew scarlet, while her tears suddenly
659 III| get at the animal which he scents inside it. Suddenly, however,
660 III| of opening the gate she scrambled over the fence, and as soon
661 III| secret, just as a terrier scratches at a hole to try and get
662 III| violently that it began to scream with terror; and then she
663 III| dare to touch them, and screamed with horror, so that her
664 III| Neither could there be any scruples about an unequal match between
665 III| misfortune, like a ship scudding before the wind. An owl
666 I| scratching with one claw in search of worms, while the cock
667 V| she might be fruitful a second time; but it was in vain,
668 III| after waiting for a few seconds, he went on: "You see, a
669 III| just about to throw her self in when sharp, pricking
670 II| entrusted her with buying and selling everything, with the direction
671 I| It is very hard to be separated like that," and she directed
672 I| pans of milk which were set out to raise the cream in
673 III| for the moon, which was setting, shed a bright light over
674 III| I suppose the affair is settled isn't it?" She did not reply
675 III| you have never thought of settling in life?" She grew as pale
676 II| day Rose gave birth to a seven-months child, a miserable little
677 I| adjoining dairy.~She wanted to sew, as usual, but she did not
678 III| a piercing cry. Her long shadow accompanied her, and now
679 II| When you come back, I shall have something to say to
680 III| replied, trembling with shame.~The man got as red as a
681 III| to throw her self in when sharp, pricking pains in her ankles
682 IV| heavily at his feet, and, shedding a flood of tears, she said
683 I| He had been herding the sheep, and, seeing her lying down
684 III| before her misfortune, like a ship scudding before the wind.
685 III| wind. An owl hooted; she shivered, sat up, passed her hands
686 III| grass, took off her heavy shoes, which were full of dust,
687 I| knelt down by his side and shook him until he sat up.~"What
688 IV| against me?"~He began to shout and to swear: "What have
689 I| through the window, and which showed the defects in the glass.~
690 I| strong as he, and he was shrewd enough to beg her pardon;
691 V| make a pilgrimage to the shrine at Fecamp. Rose went with
692 II| thin enough to make anybody shudder, and which seemed to be
693 I| hesitated and then looked at her sideways, while she looked straight
694 I| was almost dazzled at the sight of the apple trees in blossom.
695 II| and which terminated in a signature, imagining vaguely that
696 III| he asked. "Come, don't be silly; I will give you until tomorrow
697 III| which is always strong in simple natures and very imperfectly
698 II| who had become useless since she had taken to working
699 III| spoke with such an air of sincerity that the farmer hesitated,
700 II| child, a miserable little skeleton, thin enough to make anybody
701 III| the sun rose in the purple sky, she stopped, for her swollen
702 III| and ready to flee at the slightest movement he may make; but,
703 I| with whom he has made a slip, he would have more than
704 I| abroad, while beyond the slope the open country could be
705 III| So you confess it, you slut! And pray who is the fellow?
706 I| her, but she gave him a smack in the face, for she was
707 I| that were blackened with smoke and from which hung spiders'
708 I| which hung spiders' webs, smoked herrings and strings of
709 I| horses. He pretended to snore when he heard her coming,
710 V| saying?" Then she began to sob, and amid her tears she
711 V| marry you," she said, still sobbing.~Then he got up, lit the
712 III| she opened her heart to somebody, although he could not understand
713 IV| He always spoke hastily, sometimes even brutally, and it even
714 I| When she saw that, she was sorry, and going up to him, she
715 II| thinking of her child, she sought some way of saving up money
716 I| this there was mingled the sour smell of the pans of milk
717 III| that some one bad cast a spell over her, as country people
718 III| rid of him altogether and spent the rest of the day almost
719 I| smoke and from which hung spiders' webs, smoked herrings and
720 I| things had been continually spilled and which the heat brought
721 IV| hastily swallowed several spoonfuls of soup, some of which dropped
722 I| hands on her bosom, and she sprang up at a bound. It was Jacques,
723 I| light, was of a vivid, fresh spring green. The apple trees cast
724 III| before her, with a quick, springy trot, and from time to time
725 I| as if the moisture of the stables and barns were coming through
726 III| distance, a large pond whose stagnant water looked like blood
727 I| rather overcome by the stale odor from the earthen floor,
728 I| the warmth from the cow stall came in through the half-open
729 V| her to get up and go and stand out of doors in the rain
730 III| silence in its kennel.~The stars grew dim, and the birds
731 III| soon as she was outside she started off. She went on straight
732 III| went on: "You are a good, steady, active and economical girl;
733 I| in the shade, had come up stealthily and holding his breath,
734 I| their sword-like leaves, steamed as if the moisture of the
735 I| fowls were lying on the steaming dunghill; some of them were
736 I| laid his head against the stem of a tree. When she saw
737 III| of dust, pulled off her stockings and plunged her legs into
738 V| exasperation he knelt on her stomach, and with clenched teeth,
739 I| of worms, while the cock stood up proudly in their midst.
740 III| she got into the yard she stooped down, so as not to be seen
741 I| took in and put into the storeroom; but the smell from the
742 I| that moment the eternal story of love began between them.
743 III| peasants.~The farmer, a stout, jovial, obstinate man of
744 I| away from her, and, half strangling him, she shouted into his
745 I| inclined to move and to stretch her limbs and to repose
746 II| to him. She kept such a strict eye on everything about
747 V| down the kitchen with long strides, repeating:~"Well, I am
748 V| by the neck and began to strike her in the face with his
749 I| webs, smoked herrings and strings of onions, and then she
750 I| Jacques found that she was the stronger, he stammered out: "Very
751 III| she resisted carelessly struggling against that instinct which
752 II| occasionally: "My poor girl, how stupid you have grown lately."~
753 III| without a mistress can never succeed, even with a servant like
754 V| consented to try it, but without success; so they said to each other: "
755 III| long black leeches were sucking her lifeblood, and were
756 V| any means of making her suffer more he ordered her to get
757 III| herself into it. All her sufferings would be over in there,
758 II| to whom she attributed superhuman powers, which enabled him
759 II| every day, and which was as sure as death itself. She got
760 I| The farmyard, which was surrounded by trees, seemed to be asleep.
761 I| information without exciting any suspicion, but she was so overwhelmed
762 IV| my child?" And he hastily swallowed several spoonfuls of soup,
763 III| her lifeblood, and were swelling as they adhered to her flesh.
764 III| sky, she stopped, for her swollen feet refused to go any farther;
765 I| yellow irises, with their sword-like leaves, steamed as if the
766 IV| rattled as the little lamp swung up into the air, and almost
767 IV| sacristan was preparing the tabernacle lamp for the night. That
768 II| become useless since she had taken to working like two; she
769 IV| children, by ---. When a man takes a wife it is not that they
770 II| far away.~They began to talk about her and to tease-her
771 III| say that you were always talking together, and that you thought
772 II| to talk about her and to tease-her about her lover. They asked
773 IV| when suddenly the farmer's temper grew very bad.~For two or
774 V| of a shepherd who lived ten leagues off, and so Vallin
775 II| regular intervals, and which terminated in a signature, imagining
776 III| discover her secret, just as a terrier scratches at a hole to try
777 II| into the bank every month, thanks to her, she was still only
778 I| all round them, and the thatched roofs, on which grew blue
779 I| in the country round, of themselves, of their village, of their
780 II| away to cry by herself, for these questions seemed to hurt
781 I| beneath her cotton jacket; thick, red lips; and her neck,
782 III| was in the water up to her thighs, and she was just about
783 III| the air of a person who thinks that he is face to face
784 I| the hen loft. There were thirteen of them, which she took
785 III| left in her, she was so thoroughly dumfounded. She remained
786 II| stopped in her work to look at those lines written at regular
787 III| she had been turning the thrashing machine all day in the place
788 I| Then she seized him by the throat, threw him or his back,
789 V| keeping his word."~The man was thunderstruck and could hardly speak,
790 III| capital bargain for him, as he thus bound a woman to his interests
791 I| wooden clock with its loud tick-tock, she drew a long breath,
792 III| for, from her knees to the tips of her feet, long black
793 III| that if he were to come to-day and ask me to marry him
794 II| look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her apron
795 II| good servant, and as a mere token of good will; and she began
796 III| silly; I will give you until tomorrow to think it over."~And he
797 II| to look at herself from top to toe, to see whether her
798 IV| the narrow nave was in total darkness, but she heard
799 III| flesh. She did not dare to touch them, and screamed with
800 III| night, however, two hands touching the bed woke her. She .
801 I| dolls, and white horses like toys, who were drawing a child'
802 III| the rest of the day almost tranquilly, but was as exhausted as
803 IV| own child you would not treat him so." She was hurt and
804 I| head against the stem of a tree. When she saw that, she
805 II| by baffling the peasants' tricks when they offered anything
806 III| her, with a quick, springy trot, and from time to time she
807 III| understand her, and told him her troubles; how hard her work was,
808 III| who partly guessed the truth; and she replied, hastily: "
809 III| in it. She sat down on a tuft of grass, took off her heavy
810 III| become masters in their turn, and the female servants
811 III| exhausted as if she had been turning the thrashing machine all
812 III| and the birds began to twitter; day was breaking. The girl
813 II| fixedly at, the girl, who felt uncomfortable under his gaze, but asked
814 III| and from time to time she unconsciously uttered a piercing cry.
815 III| take liberties with her she understood and began to tremble violently,
816 I| feeling comfortable, she undid it, spread it out and lay
817 III| be any scruples about an unequal match between them, for
818 IV| though she came back more unhappy each time.~But she gradually
819 IV| in and said to her in his unpleasant voice: "If that were your
820 III| heavy from sleep, and quite unprotected, with that man standing
821 III| embarrassed, which was very unusual with him; but, at last,
822 V| it.~Next, a schoolmaster unveiled mysteries and processes
823 II| her life before she was so upset by it that she was obliged
824 I| dairy.~She wanted to sew, as usual, but she did not feel strong
825 I| to him, as if they were uttering challenges from farm to
826 | V
827 IV| though still with some vague fear floating in it. And
828 V| second time; but it was in vain, and then she thought that
829 II| a pillar, and no longer ventured to go to confession, as
830 I| defects in the glass.~Three venturesome hens were picking up the
831 III| tired the child with the violence of her caresses.~She took
832 I| there was a large patch of violets, whose fragrance was spread
833 I| of yellow light, was of a vivid, fresh spring green. The
834 III| downstairs, as if she were walking in her sleep. When she got
835 I| looked at the black clay walls, the rafters that were blackened
836 V| out in useless hopes.~Then war broke out between them;
837 I| limbs and to repose in the warm, breathless air. She took
838 I| out some water and slowly washed her dishes, stopping occasionally
839 III| pleasure in handling it, in washing and dressing it, for it
840 II| cattle, which was rather wasted. She was as miserly about
841 V| terrible grief. She was wasting away with sorrow; her husband
842 II| eyes seemed always to be watching her.~One morning the postman
843 V| Perhaps there are some secret ways?" And they tried to find
844 III| press on her, but she was weakened by fatigue, while he became
845 V| aging prematurely, and was wearing himself out in useless hopes.~
846 I| from which hung spiders' webs, smoked herrings and strings
847 II| handsome and rich. When was the wedding to be and the christening?
848 II| his gaze, but asked for a week's holiday, so that she might
849 V| laughing, he kissed his weeping and agitated wife on both
850 II| girl is worth more than her weight in gold."~But time passed
851 I| love for that tall, strong wench. When the bleeding had stopped,
852 III| for her thoughts were in a whirl, as if at the approach of
853 V| child?" "Just six," she whispered. "Why did you not tell me
854 III| ship scudding before the wind. An owl hooted; she shivered,
855 V| child; she confided her wish to everybody, and, in consequence
856 II| embarrassment, that she wished to speak to him particularly.
857 III| forty-five, who had lost two wives, evidently felt embarrassed,
858 III| two hands touching the bed woke her. She . trembled with
859 II| direction, the farm prospered wonderfully, and for five miles around
860 I| high dresser close to the wooden clock with its loud tick-tock,
861 II| misery began for her. She worked mechanically, without thinking
862 III| nearly equal; the farmer works with his laborers, who frequently
863 I| with one claw in search of worms, while the cock stood up
864 III| was breaking. The girl was worn out and panting; and when
865 II| her heart, which had been wounded so long, there arose something
866 III| one, applied herbs to the wounds, and drove the girl to her
867 II| follows:~"MY DEAR DAUGHTER: I write to tell you that I am very
868 II| work to look at those lines written at regular intervals, and
869 III| and gave such a terrible yell that the frightened animal
870 III| angrily mentioned all the young fellows in the neighborhood,
871 I| their village, of their youthful days, of their recollections,
|