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〃He must have beena ninnywas he not？〃
She did not reply。 She only smiled slyly and hid her face in her
husband's neck。
〃He must have been a ninny and notnotnot smart？〃
She shook her head slightly to imply； 〃Nonot at all smart。〃
He continued：
〃He must have been an awful nuisance； eh？〃
This time she was frank and replied：
〃Oh yes！〃
He kissed her again for this avowal and said：
〃What a brute he was！ You were not happy with him？〃
〃No；〃 she replied。 〃It was not always pleasant。〃
Leuillet was delighted； forming in his mind a comparison； much in his own
favor； between his wife's former and present position。 He was silent for
a time； and then with a burst of laughter he asked：
〃Tell me？〃
〃What？〃
〃Will you be frank； very frank with me？〃
〃Why yes； my dear。〃
〃Well then； tell me truly did you never feel tempted tototo deceive
that imbecile Souris？〃
Mme。 Leuillet said： 〃Oh！〃 pretending to be shocked and hid her face again
on her husband's shoulder。 But he saw that she was laughing。
〃Come now； own up；〃 he persisted。 〃He looked like a ninny； that
creature！ It would be funny； so funny！ Good old Souris！ Come； come；
dearie； you do not mind telling me； me； of all people。〃
He insisted on the 〃me〃 thinking that if she had wished to deceive Souris
she would have chosen him； and he was trembling in anticipation of her
avowal； sure that if she had not been a virtuous woman she would have
encouraged his own attentions。
But she did not answer； laughing still； as at the recollection of
something exceedingly comical。
Leuillet； in his turn began to laugh； thinking he might have been the
lucky man； and he muttered amid his mirth： 〃That poor Souris； that poor
Souris； oh； yes； he looked like a fool！〃
Mme。 Leuillet was almost in spasms of laughter。
〃Come； confess； be frank。 You know I will not mind。〃
Then she stammered out； almost choking with laughter： 〃Yes； yes。〃
〃Yes； what？〃 insisted her husband。 〃Come； tell all。〃
She was quieter now and putting her mouth to her husband's ear； she
whispered： 〃Yes； I did deceive him。〃
He felt a chill run down his back and to his very bones； and he stammered
out； dumfounded： 〃Youyoudeceived himcriminally？〃
She still thought he was amused and replied： 〃Yesyes； absolutely。〃
He was obliged to sit up to recover his breath； he was so shocked and
upset at what he had heard。
She had become serious； understanding too late what she had done。
〃With whom？〃 said Leuillet at length。
She was silent seeking some excuse。
〃A young man；〃 she replied at length。
He turned suddenly toward her and said drily：
〃I did not suppose it was the cook。 I want to know what young man； do
you hear？〃
She did not answer。
He snatched the covers from her face； repeating：
〃I want to know what young man； do you hear？〃
Then she said sorrowfully： 〃I was only in fun。〃 But he was trembling
with rage。 〃What？ How？ You were only in fun？ You were making fun of
me； then？ But I am not satisfied； do you hear？ I want the name of the
young man！〃
She did not reply； but lay there motionless。
He took her by the arm and squeezed it； saying： 〃Do you understand me；
finally？ I wish you to reply when I speak to you。〃
〃I think you are going crazy；〃 she said nervously； 〃let me alone！〃
He was wild with rage； not knowing what to say； exasperated； and he shook
her with all his might； repeating：
〃Do you hear me； do you hear me？〃
She made an abrupt effort to disengage herself and the tips of her
fingers touched her husband's nose。 He was furious； thinking she had
tried to hit him； and he sprang upon her holding her down； and boxing her
ears with all his might； he cried： 〃Take that； and that； there； there；
wretch！〃
When he was out of breath and exhausted； he rose and went toward the
dressing table to prepare a glass of eau sucree with orange flower； for
he felt as if he should faint。
She was weeping in bed； sobbing bitterly； for she felt as if her
happiness was over； through her own fault。
Then； amidst her tears； she stammered out：
〃Listen； Antoine； come here； I told you a lie； you will understand；
listen。〃
And prepared to defend herself now； armed with excuses and artifice； she
raised her disheveled head with its nightcap all awry。
Turning toward her； he approached； ashamed of having struck her； but
feeling in the bottom of his heart as a husband； a relentless hatred
toward this woman who had deceived the former husband； Souris。
MY UNCLE JULES
A white…haired old man begged us for alms。 My companion； Joseph
Davranche； gave him five francs。 Noticing my surprised look； he said：
〃That poor unfortunate reminds me of a story which I shall tell you； the
memory of which continually pursues me。 Here it is：
〃My family； which came originally from Havre； was not rich。 We just
managed to make both ends meet。 My father worked hard； came home late
from the office； and earned very little。 I had two sisters。
〃My mother suffered a good deal from our reduced circumstances； and she
often had harsh words for her husband； veiled and sly reproaches。 The
poor man then made a gesture which used to distress me。 He would pass
his open hand over his forehead； as if to wipe away perspiration which
did not exist； and he would answer nothing。 I felt his helpless
suffering。 We economized on everything； and never would accept an
invitation to dinner； so as not to have to return the courtesy。 All our
provisions were bought at bargain sales。 My sisters made their own
gowns； and long discussions would arise on the price of a piece of braid
worth fifteen centimes a yard。 Our meals usually consisted cf soup and
beef； prepared with every kind of sauce。
They say it is wholesome and nourishing； but I should have preferred a
change。
〃I used to go through terrible scenes on account of lost buttons and torn
trousers。
〃Every Sunday； dressed in our best； we would take our walk along the
breakwater。 My father； in a frock coat； high hat and kid gloves； would
offer his arm to my mother； decked out and beribboned like a ship on a
holiday。 My sisters； who were always ready first； would await the signal
for leaving； but at the last minute some one always found a spot on my
father's frock coat； and it had to be wiped away quickly with a rag
moistened with benzine。
〃My father； in his shirt sleeves； his silk hat on his head； would await
the completion of the operation； while my mother； putting on her
spectacles； and taking off her gloves in order not to spoil them； would
make haste。
〃Then we set out ceremoniously。 My sisters marched on ahead； arm in arm。
They were of marriageable age and had to be displayed。 I walked on the
left of my mother and my father on her right。 I remember the pompous air
of my poor parents in these Sunday walks； their stern expression； their
stiff walk。 They moved slowly； with a serious expression； their bodies
straight； their legs stiff； as if something of extreme importance
depended upon their appearance。
〃Every Sunday； when the big steamers were returning from unknown and
distant countries； my father would invariably utter