A cat slowly walking over some roof put up his back in the pale rays of the sun.

The wind on the highroad blew up clouds of dust.

Afar off a dog sometimes howled; and the bell, keeping time, continued its monotonous ringing that died away over the fields.
But the people came out from church.

The women in waxed clogs, the peasants in new blouses, the little bare-headed children skipping along in front of them, all were going home.

And till nightfall, five or six men, always the same, stayed playing at corks in front of the large door of the inn.
The winter was severe.