The neighbor and I contemplated this scene, without knowing how we could interfere.

As for Michael, he looked at us by turns, making a visible effort to comprehend it all.

When his eye rested upon Genevieve and the child, it lit up with a gleam of pleasure; but when he turned toward us, he again became stupid and hesitating.
At last, apparently making a prodigious effort, he cried out, "Wait!" And going to a tub filled with water, he plunged his face into it several times.
Every eye was turned upon him; the countrywoman herself seemed astonished.

At length he raised his dripping head.

This ablution had partly dispelled his drunkenness; he looked at us for a moment, then he turned to Genevieve, and his face brightened up.
"Robert!" cried he, going up to the child, and taking him in his arms.
"Ah! give him me, wife; I must look at him." The mother seemed to give up his son to him with reluctance, and stayed before him with her arms extended, as if she feared the child would have a fall.