Indeed,
there was yet much that was childlike in their growing love. On several
occasions they spoke of going on some bird's-nesting expedition on the
banks of the Viorne.
"You'll see how I can climb," said Miette proudly. "When I lived at
Chavanoz, I used to go right up to the top of old Andre's walnut-trees.
Have you ever taken a magpie's nest? It's very difficult!"
Then a discussion arose as to how one ought to climb a poplar. Miette
stated her opinions, with all a boy's confidence.
However, Silvere, clasping her round the knees, had by this time lifted
her to the ground, and then they would walk on, side by side, their arms
encircling each other's waist. Though they were but children, fond of
frolicsome play and chatter, and knew not even how to speak of love, yet
they already partook of love's delight. It sufficed them to press each
other's hands. Ignorant whither their feelings and their hearts were
drifting, they did not seek to hide the blissful thrills which the
slightest touch awoke. Smiling, often wondering at the delight they
experienced, they yielded unconsciously to the sweetness of new feelings
even while talking, like a couple of schoolboys, of the magpies' nests
which are so difficult to reach.
And as they talked they went down the silent path, between the piles of
planks and the wall of the Jas-Meiffren. They never went beyond the end
of that narrow blind alley, but invariably retraced their steps.
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