When they left the bistro full light had come, and
they at lengthhad fallen silent. Ce nest pas bon de parler trop
correctement.
In the afternoon he went down to the station and
took a train thatwas going to Orléans. The peasant, his wife and his daughter
collected their bundles andgot out of the train. I assure you, madame, that you need
have noqualms about the plumbing arrangements.
It seemedcertain to him that if he spoke to her she
would not rebuff him.
They did not know why they stayed, why they hung
on, why theycontinued grimly at this barren hunt. He bought a third-class ticket and
got into one ofthe compartments. For Gods sake, what kind ofwoman are
you?
In the afternoon he went down to the station and
took a train thatwas going to Orléans. Then, for several minutes, there was an
awkward silence: nothingwas said.
And the young man nodded his head and shouted,
toshow that he had understood.
Tell her it is going to be a great thing for her
The peasant, his wife and his daughter collected
their bundles andgot out of the train. She looked at him withquiet eyes, and said
simply: What of it? The girl made an impatient movement and continued to
starefuriously and sullenly out of the window. I assure you, madame, that you need
have noqualms about the plumbing arrangements. She laughed her sudden, short and
angry laugh, and yet there was norancour in it. Tell Madame Vatel that an American
friend of mine ishere. Well, not exactly that, he blundered, red in the face
fromconfusion and embarrassment. They did not know why they stayed, why they hung
on, why theycontinued grimly at this barren hunt.
Seen so, the womans face had a cold and stern
authority ofmistrust that was impregnable. The mans rich voice was
chargedindescribably with the high, sanguinary vitality of the
Frenchman.
Why, I dont think youd know where it is, he said at
length. The peasant began to speak amiably to him when he entered
thecompartment.
He bought a third-class ticket and got into one
ofthe compartments. Far offsometimes one could see tall lines of poplars and knew
that therewas water there.
No, I am just going there to see the
town.
Thetrain was a mixed train, made up of goods cars
and passengercompartments. Thetrain was a mixed train, made up of goods cars and
passengercompartments.
Licky Streek, said the youth, dutifully phonetical.
He says America is much larger than France, the girl cried in anexasperated tone. In
the afternoon he went down to the station and took a train thatwas going to
Orléans.
The old man and his wife beamed delightedly and
nodded theirapproval, saying, Yes. I tell you, the girl cried angrily from her seat
by the window,he knows all these words.
Meanwhile, the girl had turned herback angrily and
was walking away around the station.