HenextinquiredwhereIwasgoingandwhatIhadhadfordinner；
andthen，withouttheleasttransition，\'C\'ESTBIEN，\'headded，\'comealong。\'Andheandhisson，withoutanotherword，turnedofftothenextchestnut-treebutone，whichtheysettopruning。ThethinghadpassedofmoresimplythanIhoped。Hewasagrave，respectableman；andhisunfriendlyvoicedidnotimplythathethoughthewasspeakingtoacriminal，butmerelytoaninferior。
Iwassoonontheroad，nibblingacakeofchocolateandseriouslyoccupiedwithacaseofconscience。WasItopayformynight\'slodging？Ihadsleptill，thebedwasfulloffleasintheshapeofants，therewasnowaterintheroom，theverydawnhadneglectedtocallmeinthemorning。Imighthavemissedatrain，hadtherebeenanyintheneighbourhoodtocatch。Clearly，Iwasdissatisfiedwithmyentertainment；andIdecidedIshouldnotpayunlessImetabeggar。
Thevalleylookedevenlovelierbymorning；andsoontheroaddescendedtotheleveloftheriver。Here，inaplacewheremanystraightandprosperouschestnutsstoodtogether，makinganaisleuponaswardedterrace，ImademymorningtoiletteinthewateroftheTarn。Itwasmarvellouslyclear，thrillinglycool；thesoap-
sudsdisappearedasifbymagicintheswiftcurrent，andthewhitebouldersgaveoneamodelforcleanliness。TowashinoneofGod\'sriversintheopenairseemstomeasortofcheerfulsolemnityorsemi-paganactofworship。Todabbleamongdishesinabedroommayperhapsmakecleanthebody；buttheimaginationtakesnoshareinsuchacleansing。Iwentonwithalightandpeacefulheart，andsangpsalmstothespiritualearasIadvanced。