Together they breathed a long sigh that to both of them meant a partial satisfaction of their desire.
"You'll say 'yes,' won't you," asked he.
"How you worry me!" she murmured.

"You wish it?
Well then, 'yes.' Ah! we're perhaps doing a very foolish thing." He jumped up, and, seizing her round the waist, kissed her roughly on the face, at random.

Then, as this caress caused a noise, he became anxious, and went softly and looked at Claude and Etienne.
"Hush, we must be careful," said he in a whisper, "and not wake the children.

Good-bye till to-morrow." And he went back to his room.

Gervaise, all in a tremble, remained seated on the edge of her bed, without thinking of undressing herself for nearly an hour.