English
"Itwasahardstruggleforsomeyears,monsieur.Businessdidnotprosper,andwecouldnotaffordmanycountryexcursions,and,besides,wehadgotoutofthewayofthem.
Onehasotherthingsinone'shead,andthinksmoreofthecashboxthanofprettyspeeches,whenoneisinbusiness.
Weweregrowingoldbydegreeswithoutperceivingit,likequietpeoplewhodonotthinkmuchaboutlove.Onedoesnotregretanythingaslongasonedoesnotnoticewhatonehaslost.
Andthen,monsieur,businessbecamebetter,andweweretranquilastothefuture!Then,yousee,Idonotexactlyknowwhatwentoninmymind,no,Ireallydonotknow,butIbegantodreamlikealittleboarding-schoolgirl.
Thesightofthelittlecartsfullofflowerswhicharedrawnaboutthestreetsmademecry;thesmellofvioletssoughtmeoutinmyeasy-chair,behindmycashbox,andmademyheartbeat!
ThenIwouldgetupandgooutonthedoorsteptolookattheblueskybetweentheroofs.Whenonelooksupattheskyfromthestreet,itlookslikeariverwhichisdescendingonParis,windingasitflows,andtheswallowspasstoandfroinitlikefish.
Theseideasareverystupidatmyage!Buthowcanonehelpit,monsieur,whenonehasworkedallone'slife?
Amomentcomesinwhichoneperceivesthatonecouldhavedonesomethingelse,andthatoneregrets,oh!Yes,onefeelsintenseregret!
Justthink,fortwentyyearsImighthavegoneandhadkissesinthewoods,likeotherwomen.Iusedtothinkhowdelightfulitwouldbetolieunderthetreesandbeinlovewithsomeone!
AndIthoughtofiteverydayandeverynight!Idreamedofthemoonlightonthewater,untilIfeltinclinedtodrownmyself.
IdidnotventuretospeaktoMonsieurBeaurainaboutthisatfirst.Iknewthathewouldmakefunofme,andsendmebacktosellmyneedlesandcotton!
Andthen,tospeakthetruth,MonsieurBeaurainneversaidmuchtome,butwhenIlookedintheglass,IalsounderstoodquitewellthatInolongerappealedtoanyone!
Well,Imadeupmymind,andIproposedtohimanexcursionintothecountry,totheplacewherewehadfirstbecomeacquainted.
Heagreedwithoutmistrustinganything,andwearrivedherethismorning,aboutnineo'clock.
IfeltquiteyoungagainwhenIgotamongthewheat,forawoman'sheartnevergrowsold!Andreally,Inolongersawmyhusbandasheisatpresent,butjustashewasformerly!
ThatIwillsweartoyou,monsieur.AstrueasIamstandinghereIwascrazy.Ibegantokisshim,andhewasmoresurprisedthanifIhadtriedtomurderhim.
Hekeptsayingtome:'Why,youmustbemad!Youaremadthismorning!Whatisthematterwithyou?'
Ididnotlistentohim,Ionlylistenedtomyownheart,andImadehimcomeintothewoodwithme.Thatisall.Ihavespokenthetruth,MonsieurleMaire,thewholetruth."
Themayorwasasensibleman.Herosefromhischair,smiled,andsaid:"Goinpeace,madame,andwhenyouagainvisitourforests,bemorediscreet."
Share this article to
FINISH