"
[129] That is good drawing, in its simple and quiet way! The actual
scene, however, is cheerful enough on this early summer day--a
symphony, as we said, in cherries and goldfinches, in which the
higher valleys of the Cevennes abound. In fact, the boys witness the
accordailles, the engagement, of Norine and Justin Lebasset. The
latter is calling the birds to sing good luck to the event:--
"He had a long steady look towards the fruit-trees, and then
whistled, on a note at once extremely clear and extremely soft. He
paused, watched awhile, recommenced. The note became more rapid,
more sonorous. What an astounding man he was, this Justin Lebasset!
Upright, his red beard forward, his forehead thrown back, his eyes on
the thick foliage of the cherry-trees, his hands on his haunches, in
an attitude of repose, easy, superb, he was like some youthful pagan
god, gilded with red gold, on his way across the country--like Pan,
if he chose to amuse himself by charming birds. You should have seen
the enthusiastic glances with which Norine watched him. Upright--she
too, slim, at full height, inclining from [130] time to time towards
Justin with a movement of irresistible fascination, she followed the
notes of her mate; and sometimes, her, lips half opening, added
thereto a sigh--something of a sigh, an aspiration, a prayer, towards
the goldfinch, withdrawn into the shadows.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114