They are coming, it is all over, it is all over!
Men are kissingone another, arms are stretched out, nothing is heard but
stifledgasps and sobs.
Antigny had exhausted his small stock of patience.
A womans voice is heardexplaining: It is the Simlers stock-taking.
Hermineclutches Laures head convulsively. Good,
there is cousin Elisas voice drowning the whispers with itsloud
vulgarity.
And FernandeBrébinaud, whats the matter with her
that she doesnt settle down toher work?
These cables go out, upon weekdays, to distribute
the power that isgenerated by the piston.
At thatmoment, a sly, smiling face, red as a
pantile, appeared framed in oneof the windows.
Or is it thelittle bunch of flowers on her loom
that keeps her from working? Joseph resented his thinking of himself when his
daughter had justappeared. Hallo, coachman, come down and let us give you a kiss. We
are satisfied with a smaller profit, but we want more business. As soon as the sun
comes in through the windows, they forget all aboutweaving. They consent to make
cloth but do not condescendto sell.
I am being quiet, I am being quiet, I am being
quiet.
You are young, and you believe that ardour is
necessarilybetter than the most established customs.
They consent to make cloth but do not condescendto
sell.
Hippolyte turned to his son with an air of
wearyseverity:Four pieces spoiled this week. He leaves the door wide enough open
toallow the slim form of a boy of nine to escape in his wake. Joseph felt a painful
contraction at the pit of his stomach. Then Joseph remembered that there were
certain ugly rumours anent thebusiness methods of M. Those gentlemen dontlift their
hats to us in the street.
Five other spinning machines were moving to and fro
in the room.
At thatmoment, a sly, smiling face, red as a
pantile, appeared framed in oneof the windows.
They remained impenetrable however to the
horse-owners attempts atinsolence.
We shall know presently, the old woman goes on.
Behind him the murmur of the women is mingled with the buzzing offlies round the
lustre. Joseph felt himself scorned, did not know why, andwas conscious of a grudge
against his host.
What was the use of all this din if there was
nothing solid underlyingit?
ButGuillaumes harassed air indicates that the task,
whatever it may be,is not completed. Hermineclutches Laures head
convulsively.
She sits down again and smiles at thetwo
Parisians.
The long faceof a little boy rises between two bars
of the gate. But a triumphant voice breaks out suddenly in a discord:And
Sarah!
He is weary, inanticipation, of the time that this
woman is going to spend with him.
IIIThe white heat of two oclock in the afternoon is
as vertical as aflagstaff. The machines are asleep between their
tallwheels.
He greeted his cousin nevertheless with a gay wave
of his whip.