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it。〃
The mother asked：
〃It doesn't soil the underwear more than other skins； this black skin？〃
〃Not more than your own； as it is her proper color。〃
Then； after many other questions； it was agreed that the parents should
see this girl before coming； to any decision； and that the young fellow；
whose； term of military service would be over in a month； should bring
her to the house in order that they might examine her and decide by
talking the matter over whether or not she was too dark to enter the
Boitelle family。
Antoine accordingly announced that on Sunday； the 22d of May； the day of
his discharge； he would start for Tourteville with his sweetheart。
She had put on； for this journey to the house of her lover's parents； her
most beautiful and most gaudy clothes； in which yellow； red and blue were
the prevailing colors； so that she looked as if she were adorned for a
national festival。
At the terminus； as they were leaving Havre； people stared at her； and
Boitelle was proud of giving his arm to a person who commanded so much
attention。 Then； in the third…class carriage； in which she took a seat
by his side； she aroused so much astonishment among the country folks
that the people in the adjoining compartments stood up on their benches
to look at her over the wooden partition which divides the compartments。
A child； at sight of her； began to cry with terror； another concealed his
face in his mother's apron。 Everything went off well； however； up to
their arrival at their destination。 But when the train slackened its
rate of motion as they drew near Yvetot； Antoine felt： ill at ease； as he
would have done at a review when； he did not know his drill practice。
Then； as he； leaned his head out； he recognized in the distance： his
father； holding the bridle of the horse harnessed to a carryall； and his
mother； who had come forward to the grating； behind which stood those who
were expecting friends。
He alighted first； gave his hand to his sweetheart； and holding himself
erect； as if he were escorting a general； he went to meet his family。
The mother； on seeing this black lady in variegated costume in her son's
company； remained so stupefied that she could not open her mouth； and the
father found it hard to hold the horse； which the engine or the negress
caused to rear continuously。 But Antoine； suddenly filled with unmixed
joy at seeing once more the old people； rushed forward with open arms；
embraced his mother； embraced his father； in spite of the nag's fright；
and then turning toward his companion； at whom the passengers on the
platform stopped to stare with amazement； he proceeded to explain：
〃Here she is！ I told you that； at first sight； she is not attractive；
but as soon as you know her； I can assure you there's not a better sort
in the whole world。 Say good…morning to her so that she may not feel
badly。〃
Thereupon Mere Boitelle； almost frightened out of her wits； made a sort
of curtsy； while the father took off his cap； murmuring：
〃I wish you good luck！〃
Then； without further delay； they climbed into the carryall； the two
women at the back； on seats which made them jump up and down as the
vehicle went jolting along the road； and the two men in front on the
front seat。
Nobody spoke。 Antoine； ill at ease； whistled a barrack…room air； his
father whipped the nag； and his mother； from where she sat in the corner；
kept casting sly glances at the negress； whose forehead and cheekbones
shone in the sunlight like well…polished shoes。
Wishing to break the ice； Antoine turned round。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃we don't seem inclined to talk。〃
〃We must have time；〃 replied the old woman。
He went on：
〃Come！ Tell us the little story about that hen of yours that laid eight
eggs。〃
It was a funny anecdote of long standing in the family。 But； as his
mother still remained silent； paralyzed by her emotion； he undertook
himself to tell the story； laughing as he did so at the memorable
incident。 The father； who knew it by heart brightened at the opening
words of the narrative； his wife soon followed his example； and the
negress herself； when he reached the drollest part of it； suddenly gave
vent to a laugh； such a loud； rolling torrent of laughter that the horse；
becoming excited； broke into a gallop for a while。
This served to cement their acquaintance。 They all began to chat。
They had scarcely reached the house and had all alighted； when Antoine
conducted his sweetheart to a room； so that she might take off her dress；
to avoid staining it； as she was going to prepare a nice dish； intended
to win the old people's affections through their stomachs。 He drew his
parents outside the house； and； with beating heart； asked：
〃Well； what do you say now？〃
The father said nothing。 The mother； less timid； exclaimed：
〃She is too black。 No； indeed； this is too much for me。 It turns my
blood。〃
〃You will get used to it；〃 said Antoine。
〃Perhaps so； but not at first。〃
They went into the house； where the good woman was somewhat affected at
the spectacle of the negress engaged in cooking。 She at once proceeded
to assist her； with petticoats tucked up； active in spite of her age。
The meal was an excellent one； very long； very enjoyable。 When they were
taking a turn after dinner； Antoine took his father aside。
〃Well； dad； what do you say about it？〃
The peasant took care never to compromise himself。
〃I have no opinion about it。 Ask your mother。〃
So Antoine went back to his mother； and； detaining her behind the rest；
said：
〃Well； mother； what do you think of her？〃
〃My poor lad； she is really too black。 If she were only a little less
black； I would not go against you； but this is too much。 One would think
it was Satan！〃
He did not press her； knowing how obstinate the old woman had always
been； but he felt a tempest of disappointment sweeping over his heart。
He was turning over in his mind what he ought to do； what plan he could
devise； surprised； moreover； that she had not conquered them already as
she had captivated himself。 And they； all four； walked along through the
wheat fields； having gradually relapsed into silence。 Whenever they
passed a fence they saw a countryman sitting on the stile； and a group of
brats climbed up to stare at them； and every one rushed out into the road
to see the 〃black〃 whore young Boitelle had brought home with him。 At a
distance they noticed people scampering across the fields just as when
the drum beats to draw public attention to some living phenomenon。 Pere
and Mere Boitelle； alarmed at this curiosity； which was exhibited
everywhere through the country at their approach； quickened their pace；
walking side by side； and leaving their son far behind。 His dark
companion asked what his parents thought of her。
He hesitatingly replied that they had not yet made up their minds。
But on the village green people rushed out of all the houses in a flutter
of excitement； and； at the sight of the gathering crowd； old Boitelle
took to his heels； and regained his abode； while Antoine； swelling with
rage； his sweetheart on his arm； advanced majestically under the staring
eyes； which opened wide in amazement。
He understood that it was at an end； and there was no hope for him； that
he could not marry his negress。 She also understood it； and as they drew
near the farmhouse they both began to weep。 As soon as they had got back
to the house； she once more took off her dress to aid the mother in the
household duties； and followed her everywhere； to the dairy； to the
stable； to the hen house； taking on herself the hardest part of the work；
repeating always： 〃Let me do it； Madame Boitelle；〃 so that； when night
came on； the old woman； touched but inexorable； said to her son： 〃She is
a good girl； all the same。 It's a pity she is so black； but indeed she
is too black。 I could not get used to it。 She must go back again。 She
is too； too black！〃
And young Boitelle said to his sweetheart：
〃She will not consent。 She thinks you are too black。 You must go back
again。 I will go with you to the train。 No matterdon't fret。 I am
going to talk to them after you have started。〃
He then took her to the railway station； still cheering her with hope；
and； when he had kissed her； he put her into the train； which he watched
as it passed out of sight； his eyes swollen with tears。
In vain did he appeal to the old people。 They would never give their
consent。
And when he had told this story； which was known all over the country；
Antoine Boitelle would always add：
〃From that time forward I have had no heart for anythingfor anything at
all。 No trade suited me any longer； and so I became what I ama night
scavenger。〃
People would say to him：
〃Yet you got married。〃
〃Yes； and I can't say that my wife didn't please me； seeing that I have
fourteen children； but she is not the other one； oh； nocertainly not！
The other one； mark you； my negress； she had only to give me one glance；
and I felt as if I were in Heaven。〃
A WIDOW
This story was told during the hunting season at the Chateau Baneville。
The autumn had been rainy and sad。 The