English
Thehaberdasherseemedreadytocrywithshame,andhemuttered:"Itwasshewhoenticedme!Itoldheritwasverystupid,butwhenawomanoncegetsathingintoherhead--youknow--youcannotgetitout."
Themayor,wholikedajoke,smiledandreplied:"Inyourcase,thecontraryoughttohavehappened.Youwouldnotbehere,ifshehadhadtheideaonlyinherhead."
ThenMonsieurBeauainwasseizedwithrageandturningtohiswife,hesaid:"Doyouseetowhatyouhavebroughtuswithyourpoetry?Andnowweshallhavetogobeforethecourtsatourage,forabreachofmorals!Andweshallhavetoshutuptheshop,sellourgoodwill,andgotosomeotherneighborhood!That'swhatithascometo."
MadameBeauraingotup,andwithoutlookingatherhusband,sheexplainedherselfwithoutembarrassment,withoutuselessmodesty,andalmostwithouthesitation.
"Ofcourse,monsieur,Iknowthatwehavemadeourselvesridiculous.Willyouallowmetopleadmycauselikeanadvocate,orratherlikeapoorwoman?
AndIhopethatyouwillbekindenoughtosendushome,andtospareusthedisgraceofaprosecution.
Yearsago,whenIwasyoung,ImadeMonsieurBeaurain'sacquaintanceoneSundayinthisneighborhood.Hewasemployedinadraper'sshop,andIwasasaleswomaninaready-madeclothingestablishment.
Irememberitasifitwereyesterday.IusedtocomeandspendSundayshereoccasionallywithafriendofmine,RoseLeveque,withwhomIlivedintheRuePigalle,andRosehadasweetheart,whileIhadnone.
Heusedtobringushere,andoneSaturdayhetoldmelaughingthatheshouldbringafriendwithhimthenextday.Iquiteunderstoodwhathemeant,butIrepliedthatitwouldbenogood;forIwasvirtuous,monsieur.
ThenextdaywemetMonsieurBeaurainattherailwaystation,andinthosedayshewasgood-looking,butIhadmadeupmymindnottoencouragehim,andIdidnot.
Well,wearrivedatBezons.Itwasalovelyday,thesortofdaythattouchesyourheart.Whenitisfineevennow,justasitusedtobeformerly,Igrowquitefoolish,andwhenIaminthecountryIutterlylosemyhead.
Thegreengrass,theswallowsflyingsoswiftly,thesmellofthegrass,thescarletpoppies,thedaisies,allthatmakesmecrazy.Itislikechampagnewhenoneisnotaccustomedtoit!
Well,itwaslovelyweather,warmandbright,anditseemedtopenetrateyourbodythroughyoureyeswhenyoulookedandthroughyourmouthwhenyoubreathed.
RoseandSimonhuggedandkissedeachothereveryminute,andthatgavemeaqueerfeeling!MonsieurBeaurainandIwalkedbehindthem,withoutspeakingmuch,forwhenpeopledonotknoweachother,theydonotfindanythingtotalkabout.
Helookedtimid,andIlikedtoseehisembarrassment.Atlastwegottothelittlewood;itwasascoolasinabaththere,andwefoursatdown.
RoseandherloverteasedmebecauseIlookedratherstern,butyouwillunderstandthatIcouldnotbeotherwise.
Andthentheybegantokissandhugagain,withoutputtinganymorerestraintuponthemselvesthanifwehadnotbeenthere;andthentheywhisperedtogether,andgotupandwentoffamongthetrees,withoutsayingaword.
YoumayfancywhatIlookedlike,alonewiththisyoungfellowwhomIsawforthefirsttime.Ifeltsoconfusedatseeingthemgothatitgavemecourage,andIbegantotalk.
Iaskedhimwhathisbusinesswas,andhesaidhewasalinendraper'sassistant,asItoldyoujustnow.Wetalkedforafewminutes,andthatmadehimbold,andhewantedtotakelibertieswithme,butItoldhimsharplytokeephisplace."
'Isnotthattrue,MonsieurBeaurain?'
MonsieurBeaurain,whowaslookingathisfeetinconfusion,didnotreply,andshecontinued:
"ThenhesawthatIwasvirtuous,andhebegantomakelovetomenicely,likeanhonorableman,andfromthattimehecameeverySunday,forhewasverymuchinlovewithme.
Iwasveryfondofhimalso,veryfondofhim!Hewasagood-lookingfellow,formerly,andinshorthemarriedmethenextSeptember,andwestartedinbusinessintheRuedesMartyrs."
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