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mother's house。
And where should the meeting take place？ In the hall of the bath…
house； suggested Madame Bauche； because； as she observed； they could
walk round and round； and nobody ever went there at that time of day。
But to this Adolphe objected； it would be so cold and dismal and
melancholy。
The capitaine thought that Mere Bauche's little parlour was the
place； but La Mere herself did not like this。 They might be
overheard； as she well knew； and she guessed that the meeting would
not conclude without some sobs that would certainly be bitter and
might perhaps be loud。
〃Send her up to the grotto； and I will follow her；〃 said Adolphe。 On
this therefore they agreed。 Now the grotto was a natural excavation
in a high rock； which stood precipitously upright over the
establishment of the baths。 A steep zigzag path with almost never…
ending steps had been made along the face of the rock from a little
flower garden attached to the house which lay immediately under the
mountain。 Close along the front of the hotel ran a little brawling
river； leaving barely room for a road between it and the door； over
this there was a wooden bridge leading to the garden； and some two or
three hundred yards from the bridge began the steps by which the
ascent was made to the grotto。
When the season was full and the weather perfectly warm the place was
much frequented。 There was a green table in it； and four or five
deal chairs； a green garden seat also was there； which however had
been removed into the innermost back corner of the excavation； as its
hinder legs were somewhat at fault。 A wall about two feet high ran
along the face of it； guarding its occupants from the precipice。 In
fact it was no grotto； but a little chasm in the rock； such as we
often see up above our heads in rocky valleys； and which by means of
these steep steps had been turned into a source of exercise and
amusement for the visitors at the hotel。
Standing at the wall one could look down into the garden； and down
also upon the shining slate roof of Madame Bauche's house； and to the
left might be seen the sombre； silent； snow…capped top of stern old
Canigou； king of mountains among those Eastern Pyrenees。
And so Madame Bauche undertook to send Marie up to the grotto； and
Adolphe undertook to follow her thither。 It was now spring； and
though the winds had fallen and the snow was no longer lying on the
lower peaks； still the air was fresh and cold； and there was no
danger that any of the few guests at the establishment would visit
the place。
〃Make her put on her cloak； Mere Bauche；〃 said the capitaine； who did
not wish that his bride should have a cold in her head on their
wedding…day。 La Mere Bauche pished and pshawed； as though she were
not minded to pay any attention to recommendations on such subjects
from the capitaine。 But nevertheless when Marie was seen slowly to
creep across the little bridge about fifteen minutes after this time；
she had a handkerchief on her head； and was closely wrapped in a dark
brown cloak。
Poor Marie herself little heeded the cold fresh air； but she was glad
to avail herself of any means by which she might hide her face。 When
Madame Bauche sought her out in her own little room； and with a
smiling face and kind kiss bade her go to the grotto； she knew； or
fancied that she knew that it was all over。
〃He will tell you all the truth；how it all is；〃 said La Mere。 〃We
will do all we can； you know； to make you happy； Marie。 But you must
remember what Monsieur le Cure told us the other day。 In this vale
of tears we cannot have everything； as we shall have some day； when
our poor wicked souls have been purged of all their wickedness。 Now
go； dear； and take your cloak。〃
〃Yes； maman。〃
〃And Adolphe will come to you。 And try and behave well； like a
sensible girl。〃
〃Yes； maman；〃and so she went； bearing on her brow another
sacrificial kissand bearing in her heart such an unutterable load
of woe！
Adolphe had gone out of the house before her； but standing in the
stable yard； well within the gate so that she should not see him； he
watched her slowly crossing the bridge and mounting the first flight
of the steps。 He had often seen her tripping up those stairs； and
had； almost as often； followed her with his quicker feet。 And she；
when she would hear him； would run； and then he would catch her
breathless at the top； and steal kisses from her when all power of
refusing them had been robbed from her by her efforts at escape。
There was no such running now； no such following； no thought of such
kisses。
As for him； he would fain have skulked off and shirked the interview
had he dared。 But he did not dare； so he waited there； out of heart；
for some ten minutes； speaking a word now and then to the bath…man；
who was standing by； just to show that he was at his ease。 But the
bath…man knew that he was not at his ease。 Such would…be lies as
those rarely achieve deception；are rarely believed。 And then； at
the end of the ten minutes； with steps as slow as Marie's had been；
he also ascended to the grotto。
Marie had watched him from the top； but so that she herself should
not be seen。 He however had not once lifted up his head to look for
her； but with eyes turned to the ground had plodded his way up to the
cave。 When he entered she was standing in the middle； with her eyes
downcast and her hands clasped before her。 She had retired some way
from the wall； so that no eyes might possibly see her but those of
her false lover。 There she stood when he entered； striving to stand
motionless； but trembling like a leaf in every limb。
It was only when he reached the top step that he made up his mind how
he would behave。 Perhaps after all； the capitaine was right； perhaps
she would not mind it。
〃Marie；〃 said he； with a voice that attempted to be cheerful； 〃this
is an odd place to meet in after such a long absence；〃 and he held
out his hand to her。 But only his hand！ He offered her no salute。
He did not even kiss her cheek as a brother would have done！ Of the
rules of the outside world it must be remembered that poor Marie knew
but little。 He had been a brother to her before he had become her
lover。
But Marie took his hand saying； 〃Yes； it has been very long。〃
〃And now that I have come back；〃 he went on to say； 〃it seems that we
are all in a confusion together。 I never knew such a piece of work。
However； it is all for the best； I suppose。〃
〃Perhaps so；〃 said Marie； still trembling violently； and still
looking upon the ground。 And then there was silence between them for
a minute or so。
〃I tell you what it is； Marie；〃 said Adolphe at last； dropping her
hand and making a great effort to get through the work before him。
〃I am afraid we two have been very foolish。 Don't you think we have
now？ It seems quite clear that we can never get ourselves married。
Don't you see it in that light？〃
Marie's head turned round and round with her； but she was not of the
fainting order。 She took three steps backwards and leant against the
wall of the cave。 She also was trying to think how she might best
fight her battle。 Was th