Chapter 4

           Leonsoonputonanairofsuperioritybeforehiscomrades,avoidedtheircompany,andcompletelyneglectedhiswork.

           Hewaitedforherletters;here-readthem;hewrotetoher.Hecalledhertomindwithallthestrengthofhisdesiresandofhismemories.Insteadoflesseningwithabsence,thislongingtoseeheragaingrew,sothatatlastonSaturdaymorningheescapedfromhisoffice.

           When,fromthesummitofthehill,hesawinthevalleybelowthechurch-spirewithitstinflagswinginginthewind,hefeltthatdelightmingledwithtriumphantvanityandegoistictendernessthatmillionairesmustexperiencewhentheycomebacktotheirnativevillage.

           Hewentramblingroundherhouse.Alightwasburninginthekitchen.Hewatchedforhershadowbehindthecurtains,butnothingappeared.

           MereLefrancois,whenshesawhim,utteredmanyexclamations.Shethoughthe"hadgrownandwasthinner,"whileArtemise,onthecontrary,thoughthimstouteranddarker.

           Hedinedinthelittleroomasofyore,butalone,withoutthetax-gatherer;forBinet,tiredofwaitingforthe"Hirondelle,"haddefinitelyputforwardhismealonehour,andnowhedinedpunctuallyatfive,andyethedeclaredusuallythericketyoldconcern"waslate."

           Leon,however,madeuphismind,andknockedatthedoctor’sdoor.Madamewasinherroom,anddidnotcomedownforaquarterofanhour.Thedoctorseemeddelightedtoseehim,butheneverstirredoutthatevening,norallthenextday.