again in the cold water which hardened and reddened the skin, she

looked at her handsome round arms and asked herself what her cousin

did to make his hands so softly white, his nails so delicately curved.

She put on new stockings and her prettiest shoes. She laced her corset

straight, without skipping a single eyelet. And then, wishing for the

first time in her life to appear to advantage, she felt the joy of

having a new gown, well made, which rendered her attractive.

As she finished her toilet the clock of the parish church struck the