His mind was upset and his heart broken, without his even
realizing why.
Then the girl sat down beside Luc, and they started to chat.
Jean was not looking at them. He understood now why his friend
had gone out twice during the week. He felt the pain and the sting
which treachery and deceit leave in their wake.
Luc and the girl went together to attend to the cow.
Jean followed them with his eyes. He saw them disappear side by
side, the red trousers of his friend making a scarlet spot against
the white road. It was Luc who sank the stake to which the cow
was tethered. The girl stooped down to milk the cow, while he
absent-mindedly stroked the animal's glossy neck. Then they left
the pail in the grass and disappeared in the woods.
Jean could no longer see anything but the wall of leaves through
which they had passed. He was unmanned so that he did not have
strength to stand. He stayed there, motionless, bewildered and
grieving - simple, passionate grief. He wanted to weep, to run
away, to hide somewhere, never to see anyone again.
Then he saw them coming back again. They were walking slowly,
hand in hand, as village lovers do. Luc