The Equinox (Volume I, Number VII)

THE EQUINOX She told him that she was staying at the Savoy Hotel at Fontainebleau, and had gone for a walk and lost her way in the forest; and she asked him how far was it to the nearest village, and would he please take her there, and she would give him money. All this while Placide lit his fire, and proceeded to cook beans. He did not understand her, or try to understand her. There was a strange animal in his hut, possibly a human animal ; it might like beans; he would offer it beans. It was not his affair; his affair was to chop—chop—chop—chop. Diana was a little afraid of this silent beast at first. But the offer of food seemed kindly, and she ate some beans lest he should take offence, found them surprisingly good, nodded satisfaction, and even asked for more. This part concluded, she went to the door: The rain poured unceasingly; the forest stood in pools; and it was too dark to tell one tree from another. The woodcutter joined her, shook his head, said “ far " and " to-morrow," and pointed to a heap of straw. This strong-minded young lady knew when to bow to the inevitable; she took an armful of the straw, and retiring with it to the other end of the hut, made the sleep sign which every savage understands, and lay down. Placide Gervez grunted assent, and lying down with a surly “ Bon soir" dropped instantly to sleep. How was he to know what dreams would echo his quarter of an hour with the two philosophers of Paris? About eleven o‘clock the next morning some of the well- horsed search-party from Fontainebleau reached the hut. 86