place by running away from it, and as the sun rose higher in the heavens, our respect for ourselves sank lower, till by nightfall we were watching each other like two cats, though we still kept up a show of indifference. In the back of our minds was the notion of stealing off alone to the village, but neither of us dared to take his eye off the other for a second. Each tried all sorts of unsuccessful dodges to get rid of the other man, but finally we lay down on our straw mattresses, pretending to fall asleep and snore loudly, though love and fleas chased rest from our eyelids.
At last Pinon could bear it no longer, and jumped up, declaring that he was going back. "All right then," said I, "I'm with you!"
It took us a whole day to walk home; but we got there about sunset, and hid in the woods till dark, as we were not particularly anxious for any one to see us, — it would have been rather awkward, and then we wanted to surprise Belette; — we pictured her in tears, reproaching herself, sighing for her lost lover; — which one? — but you can guess what answer each of us gave to that question.
Our hearts beat fast as we stole down to the end of her garden; the moonlight shone full on the cottage, and what do you think I saw hanging
