Through all the noise of the wind she heard a voice saying,
"Mademoiselle, do you wish me to help you?"
It was he, and immediately she cried to him, with no other thought than
her pre-occupation as a good housewife:
"Of course I wish it. Come and help me, then. Take the end over there,
nearest to you. Hold it firm!"
The sheet, which they stretched out with their strong arms, flapped
backwards and forwards like a sail. At last they succeeded in putting it
on the ground, and then placed upon it much heavier stones than before.
And now that, quite conquered, it sank quietly down, neither of them
thought of leaving their places, but remained on their knees at the
opposite corners, separated by this great piece of pure white linen.
She smiled, but this time without malice. It was a silent message of
thanks. He became by degrees a little bolder.
"My name is Felicien."
"And mine is Angelique."
"I am a painter on glass, and have been charged to repair the
stained-glass window of the chapel here."
"I live over there with my father and mother, and I am an embroiderer of
church vestments."
The wind, which continued to be strong under the clear blue sky, carried
away their words, lashed them with its purifying breath in the midst of
the warm sunshine in which they were bathed.
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