Suddenly a vivid memory came back to him of one afternoon he had spent with her in a little wood that ran alongside the river. They had all set off in the morning, taking a packed lunch. It was one of those brilliant spring days which go completely to your head. Everything smells wonderful and the world is a happy place. The birds sing more merrily than ever and even their wings seem to flutter faster. The three had sat down on the grass to eat, under some willows, near the water which flowed slowly in the heat of the sun. The air was warm around them and full of the smell of sap. They drank it all in. What a day that was! What a day!

After lunch, Sandres had lain flat on his back and fallen asleep. ‘Best nap of my life,’ he had said when he awoke from it. Madame Sandres had taken Saval’s arm and the two of them had set off along the river bank. She was leaning on him, laughing and saying: ‘I’m tipsy you know my dear, quite, quite tipsy!’

Quivering all over with emotion, feeling himself grow pale and fearful lest he appear too bold or lest his trembling hand betray his secret, he looked at her.

She had made a coronet of greenery and water-lilies and asked him: ‘There! What d’you think of me in this then?’

And as he said nothing – since he could think of no response except possibly to fall on his knees – she began to laugh an unhappy little laugh in his face: ‘You great lummox! Can’t you think of anything to say?’

And still, though he was close to tears, not a word would come out.

All this returned to him now in every minute detail. Why had she said, ‘You great lummox, can’t you think of anything to say?’ like that?

And he remembered with what tenderness she had leaned on him. Passing beneath an overhanging branch he had actually felt her ear against his, his cheek, imagine it! He had drawn back quickly in case she thought he had engineered the contact. When he had wondered aloud whether it was time they were getting back she had given him a very peculiar sort of look. Yes, really a very strange look indeed. He had thought nothing of it at the time but now it was all coming back to him.

‘Just as you like, my dear. If you’re tired, let’s go back.’

And he had replied: ‘It’s not that, but don’t you think Sandres will have woken up by now?’

Shrugging her shoulders, she said, ‘Oh of course if you’re afraid my husband might have woken up, that’s different. That means we must go back, of course!’

She had said nothing as they returned. She had no longer leaned on his arm, however.

Why was that?