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view； so was the long canal； the Silver…spring； coming from across the
pavilion of the Rendezvous； crossed the lawn with its sheeny ribbon；
reflecting the yellow sand。
Beyond the park； between the village and the walls； lay the cultivated
parts of Blangy；meadows where the cows were grazing； small
properties surrounded by hedges； filled with fruit of all kinds； nut
and apple trees。 By way of frame； the heights on which the noble
forest…trees were ranged； tier above tier； closed in the scene。 The
countess had come out in her slippers to look at the flowers in her
balcony； which were sending up their morning fragrance； she wore a
cambric dressing…gown； beneath which the rosy tints of her white
shoulders could be seen； a coquettish little cap was placed in a
bewitching manner on her hair； which escaped it recklessly； her little
feet showed their warm flesh color through the transparent stockings；
the cambric gown； unconfined at the waist； floated open as the breeze
took it； and showed an embroidered petticoat。
〃Oh！ are you there？〃 she said。
〃Yes。〃
〃What are you looking at？〃
〃A pretty question！ You have torn me from the contemplation of Nature。
Tell me； countess； will you go for a walk in the woods this morning
before breakfast？〃
〃What an idea！ You know I have a horror of walking。〃
〃We will only walk a little way； I'll drive you in the tilbury and
take Joseph to hold the horses。 You have never once set foot in your
forest； and I have just noticed something very curious； a phenomenon；
there are spots where the tree…tops are the color of Florentine
bronze； the leaves are dried〃
〃Well； I'll dress。〃
〃Oh； if you do； we can't get off for two hours。 Take a shawl； put on a
bonnet； and boots； that's all you want。 I shall tell them to harness。〃
〃You always make me do what you want； I'll be ready in a minute。〃
〃General；〃 said Blondet； waking the count； who grumbled and turned
over； like a man who wants his morning sleep。 〃We are going for a
drive； won't you come？〃
A quarter of an hour later the tilbury was slowly rolling along the
park avenue； followed by a liveried groom on horseback。
The morning was a September morning。 The dark blue of the sky burst
forth here and there from the gray of the clouds； which seemed the sky
itself； the ether seeming to be the accessory； long lines of
ultramarine lay upon the horizon； but in strata； which alternated with
other lines like sand…bars； these tones changed and grew green at the
level of the forests。 The earth beneath this overhanging mantle was
moistly warm； like a woman when she rises； it exhaled sweet； luscious
odors； which yet were wild； not civilized；the scent of cultivation
was added to the scents of the woods。 Just then the Angelus was
ringing at Blangy； and the sounds of the bell； mingling with the wild
concert of the forest； gave harmony to the silence。 Here and there
were rising vapors； white； diaphanous。
Seeing these lovely preparations of Nature； the fancy had seized
Olympe Michaud to accompany her husband； who had to give an order to a
keeper whose house was not far off。 The Soulanges doctor advised her
to walk as long as she could do so without fatigue； she was afraid of
the midday heat and went out only in the early morning or evening。
Michaud now took her with him； and they were followed by the dog he
loved best；a handsome greyhound； mouse…colored with white spots；
greedy； like all greyhounds； and as full of vices as most animals who
know they are loved and petted。
So； then the tilbury reached the pavilion of the Rendezvous； the
countess； who stopped to ask how Madame Michaud felt； was told she had
gone into the forest with her husband。
〃Such weather inspires everybody；〃 said Blondet； turning his horse at
hazard into one of the six avenues of the forest； 〃Joseph； you know
the woods； don't you？〃
〃Yes； monsieur。〃
And away they went。 The avenue they took happened to be one of the
most delightful in the forest； it soon turned and grew narrower； and
presently became a winding way； on which the sunshine flickered
through rifts in the leafy roof； and where the breeze brought odors of
lavender； and thyme； and the wild mint； and that of falling leaves；
which sighed as they fell。 Dew…drops on the trees and on the grass
were scattered like seeds by the passing of the light carriage； the
occupants as they rolled along caught glimpses of the mysterious
visions of the woods；those cool depths； where the verdure is moist
and dark； where the light softens as it fades； those white…birch
glades o'ertopped by some centennial tree； the Hercules of the forest；
those glorious assemblages of knotted； mossy trunks； whitened and
furrowed； and the banks of delicate wild plants and fragile flowers
which grow between a woodland road and the forest。 The brooks sang。
Truly there is a nameless pleasure in driving a woman along the ups
and downs of a slippery way carpeted with moss； where she pretends to
be afraid or really is so； and you are conscious that she is drawing
closer to you； letting you feel； voluntarily or involuntarily； the
cool moisture of her arm； the weight of her round； white shoulder；
though she merely smiles when told that she hinders you in driving。
The horse seems to know the secret of these interruptions； and he
looks about him from right to left。
It was a new sight to the countess； this nature so vigorous in its
effects； so little seen and yet so grand； threw her into a languid
revery； she leaned back in the tilbury and yielded herself up to the
pleasure of being there with Emile； her eyes were charmed； her heart
spoke； she answered to the inward voice that harmonized with hers。 He；
too； glanced at her furtively； he enjoyed that dreamy meditation；
while the ribbons of the bonnet floated on the morning breeze with the
silky curls of the golden hair。 In consequence of going they knew not
where； they presently came to a locked gate； of which they had not the
key。 Joseph was called up； but neither had he a key。
〃Never mind； let us walk； Joseph can take care of the tilbury； we
shall easily find it again。〃
Emile and the countess plunged into the forest； and soon reached a
small interior cleared space； such as is often met with in the woods。
Twenty years earlier the charcoal…burners had made it their kiln； and
the place still remained open； quite a large circumference having been
burned over。 But during those twenty years Nature had made herself a
garden of flowers； a blooming 〃parterre〃 for her own enjoyment； just
as an artist gives himself the delight of painting a picture for his
own happiness。 The enchanting spot was surrounded by fine trees； whose
tops hung over like vast fringes and made a dais above this flowery
couch where slept the goddess。 The charcoal…burners had followed a
path to a pond； always full of water。 The path is there still； it
invites you to step into it by a turn full of my