Page:Germinal - Zola - 1925.djvu/78

GERMINAL The father and mother exchanged tender looks. He said, smiling:

“Will you come and see?”

“The poor little darling,” she murmured. “I’'ll come.”

And they went up together. The room was the only luxurious one In the house. It was draped in blue silk, and the furniture was lacquered white, with blue tracery—a spoilt child’s whim, which her parents had gratified. In the vague whiteness of the bed, beneath the half-light which came through a curtain that was drawn back, the young girl was sleeping with her cheek resting on her naked arm. She was not pretty, too healthy, in too vigorous condition, fully developed at eighteen; but she had superb flesh, the freshness of milk, with her chestnut hair, her round face and little wilful nose lost between her cheeks. The coverlet had slipped down, and she was breathing so softly that her respiration did not even lift her bosom.

“That horrible wind must have prevented her from closing her eyes,” said the mother, softly.

The father imposed silence with a gesture. Both of them leant down and gazed with adoration on this girl, in her virgin nakedness, whom they had desired so long, and who had come so late, when they had no longer hoped for her. They found her perfect, not at all too fat, and could never feed her sufficiently. And she went on sleeping, without feeling them near her, with their faces against hers. However, a slight movement disturbed her motionless face. They feared that they would wake her, and went out on tip-toe.

“Hush!” said M. Grégoire, at the door. ‘“If she has not slept we must leave her sleeping.”

“As long as she likes, the darling!’”’ agreed Madame Grégoire. “We will wait.”

They went down and seated themselves in the easy chairs in the dining-room; while the servants, laughing at mademoiselle’s sound sleep, kept the chocolate on the stove without grumbling. He took up a newspaper; she knitted at a large woolen quilt. It was very hot, and not a sound was heard in the silent house.

The Grégoires’ fortune, about forty thousand francs a year, was entirely invested in a share of the Montsou mines. They [66]