Their figures stood out very sharply, looking as if they were alone in the middle of the wide horizon, and assuming a sort of symbolic dignity in that vast expanse of sky and sea and cliff.
Pierre, too, was looking at them, and a harsh laugh suddenly broke form his lips.

Without turning to him Mme.

Roland said: "What is it ?" He spoke with a sneer.
"I am learning.

Learning how a man lays himself out to be cozened by his wife." She flushed with rage, exasperated by the insinuation she believed was intended.
"In whose name do you say that ?" "In Jean's, by Heaven! It is immensely funny to see those two." She murmured in a low voice, tremulous with feeling: "O Pierre, how cruel you are! That woman is honesty itself.

Your brother could not find a better." He laughed aloud, a hard, satirical laugh: "Ha! hah! Hah! Honesty itself! All wives are honesty itself--and all husbands are--betrayed." And he shouted with laughter.
She made no reply, but rose, hastily went down the sloping beach, and at the risk of tumbling into one of the rifts hidden by the sea-weed, of breaking a leg or an arm, she hastened, almost running, plunging through the pools without looking, straight to her other son.
Seeing her approach, Jean called out: "Well, mother?
So you have made the effort ?" Without a word she seized him by the arm, as if to say: "Save me, protect me!" He saw her agitation, and greatly surprised he said: "How pale you are! What is the matter ?" She stammered out: "I was nearly falling; I was frightened at the rocks." So then Jean guided her, supported her, explained the sport to her that she might take an interest in it.