The three of them sat there, side by side, their eyes looking far
away in the distance, their hands clasped over their knees, and
they told each other little incidents and little details of the villages
where they were born, while the cow, waiting to be milked,
stretched her heavy head toward the girl and mooed.
Soon the girl consented to eat with them and to take a sip of
wine. Often she brought them plums pocket, for plums were now
ripe. Her presence enlivened the little Breton soldiers, who
chattered away like two birds.
One Tuesday something unusual happened to Luc Le Ganidec; he
asked for leave and did not return until ten o'clock at night.
Jean, worried and racked his brain to
account for his friend's having
obtained leave.
The following Friday, Luc borrowed
ten sons from one of his friends, and
once more asked and obtained leave
for several hours.
When he started out with Jean on
Sunday he seemed queer, disturbed,
changed.
Kerderen
did
not
understand; he vaguely suspected
something, but he could not guess
what it might be.
They went straight to the usual place,
and lunched slowly. Neither was
was hungry.
Soon the girl appeared. They watched her approach as they
always did. When she was near, Luc arose and went towards her.
She placed her pail on the ground and kissed him. She kissed him
passionately, throwing her arms around his neck, without paying
attention to Jean, without even noticing that he was there.
Poor Jean was dazed, so dazed that he could not understand. His
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