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 the same words：
〃'What a surprise it would be if Jules were on that one！ Eh？'
〃My Uncle Jules； my father's brother； was the only hope of the family；
after being its only fear。 I had heard about him since childhood； and it
seemed to me that I should recognize him immediately； knowing as much
about him as I did。 I knew every detail of his life up to the day of his
departure for America； although this period of his life was spoken of
only in hushed tones。
〃It seems that he had led a bad life； that is to say； he had squandered a
little money； which action； in a poor family； is one of the greatest
crimes。 With rich people a man who amuses himself only sows his wild
oats。 He is what is generally called a sport。 But among needy families
a boy who forces his parents to break into the capital becomes a good…
for…nothing； a rascal； a scamp。 And this distinction is just； although
the action be the same； for consequences alone determine the seriousness
of the act。
〃Well； Uncle Jules had visibly diminished the inheritance on which my
father had counted； after he had swallowed his own to the last penny。
Then； according to the custom of the times； he had been shipped off to
America on a freighter going from Havre to New York。
〃Once there； my uncle began to sell something or other； and he soon wrote
that he was making a little money and that he soon hoped to be able to
indemnify my father for the harm he had done him。 This letter caused a
profound emotion in the family。 Jules； who up to that time had not been
worth his salt； suddenly became a good man； a kind…hearted fellow； true
and honest like all the Davranches。
〃One of the captains told us that he had rented a large shop and was
doing an important business。
〃Two years later a second letter came； saying： 'My dear Philippe； I am
writing to tell you not to worry about my health； which is excellent。
Business is good。 I leave to…morrow for a long trip to South America。
I may be away for several years without sending you any news。 If I
shouldn't write； don't worry。 When my fortune is made I shall return to
Havre。 I hope that it will not be too long and that we shall all live
happily together 。 。 。 。'
〃This letter became the gospel of the family。 It was read on the
slightest provocation； and it was shown to everybody。
〃For ten years nothing was heard from Uncle Jules； but as time went on my
father's hope grew； and my mother； also； often said：
〃'When that good Jules is here； our position will be different。 There is
one who knew how to get along！'
〃And every Sunday； while watching the big steamers approaching from the
horizon； pouring out a stream of smoke； my father would repeat his
eternal question：
〃'What a surprise it would be if Jules were on that one！ Eh？'
〃We almost expected to see him waving his handkerchief and crying：
〃'Hey！ Philippe！'
〃Thousands of schemes had been planned on the strength of this expected
return； we were even to buy a little house with my uncle's money
a little place in the country near Ingouville。 In fact； I wouldn't
swear that my father had not already begun negotiations。
〃The elder of my sisters was then twenty…eight； the other twenty…six。
They were not yet married； and that was a great grief to every one。
〃At last a suitor presented himself for the younger one。 He was a clerk；
not rich； but honorable。 I have always been morally certain that Uncle
Jules' letter； which was shown him one evening； had swept away the young
man's hesitation and definitely decided him。
〃He was accepted eagerly； and it was decided that after the wedding the
whole family should take a trip to Jersey。
〃Jersey is the ideal trip for poor people。 It is not far； one crosses a
strip of sea in a steamer and lands on foreign soil； as this little
island belongs to England。 Thus； a Frenchman； with a two hours' sail；
can observe a neighboring people at home and study their customs。
〃This trip to Jersey completely absorbed our ideas； was our sole
anticipation； the constant thought of our minds。
〃At last we left。 I see it as plainly as if it had happened yesterday。
The boat was getting up steam against the quay at Granville； my father；
bewildered； was superintending the loading of our three pieces of
baggage； my mother； nervous； had taken the arm of my unmarried sister；
who seemed lost since the departure of the other one； like the last
chicken of a brood； behind us came the bride and groom； who always stayed
behind； a thing that often made me turn round。
〃The whistle sounded。 We got on board； and the vessel； leaving the
breakwater； forged ahead through a sea as flat as a marble table。 We
watched the coast disappear in the distance； happy and proud； like all
who do not travel much。
〃My father was swelling out his chest in the breeze； beneath his frock
coat； which had that morning been very carefully cleaned； and he spread
around him that odor of benzine which always made me recognize Sunday。
Suddenly he noticed two elegantly dressed ladies to whom two gentlemen
were offering oysters。 An old；