Милый друг
Marriage
Duroy,exclaimedonseeinghisson,andseatingthemselvesatthewoodentablesbegantodrink,smoke,andplaydominoes.Thesmokefromtheclaypipesandpennycigarsfilledtheroom.
Madeleinechokedandasked:"Canwegoout?Icannotremainhereanylonger,"
OldDuroygrumbledatbeingdisturbed.Madeleineroseandplacedherchairatthedoorinordertowaituntilherfather-in-lawandhiswifehadfinishedtheircoffeeandwine.
Georgessoonjoinedher.
"WouldyouliketostrolldowntotheSeine?"
Joyfullyshecried:"Yes."
Theydescendedthehillside,hiredaboatatCroisset,andspenttheremainderoftheafternoonbeneaththewillowsinthesoft,warm,springair,androckedgentlybytheripplingwavesoftheriver.Theyreturnedatnightfall.Theeveningrepastbycandle-lightwasmorepainfultoMadeleinethanthatofthemorning.NeitherFatherDuroynorhiswifespoke.Whenthemealwasover,Madeleinedrewherhusbandoutsideinordernottohavetoremaininthatroom,theatmosphereofwhichwasheavywithsmokeandthefumesofliquor.
Whentheywerealone,hesaid:"Youarealreadyweary."
Sheattemptedtoprotest;heinterruptedher:
"Ihaveseenit.Ifyouwishwewillleavetomorrow."
Shewhispered:"Ishouldliketogo."
Theywalkedalongandenteredanarrowpathamonghightrees,hedgedinoneithersidebyimpenetrablebrushwood.
