They heard the servant arranging the table in the adjoining
dining-room, and he rose, saying: "I must not remain so close to you. I
shall lose my head."
The door opened, and the servant announced that lunch was ready. Duroy
gravely offered his arm.
They lunched face to face, looking at one another and constantly
smiling, solely taken up by themselves, and enveloped in the sweet
enchantment of a growing love. They ate, without knowing what. He felt a
foot, a little foot, straying under the table. He took it between his
own and kept it there, squeezing it with all his might. The servant came
and went, bringing and taking away the dishes with a careless air,
without seeming to notice anything.
When they had finished they returned to the drawing-room, and resumed
their place on the sofa, side by side. Little by little he pressed up
against her, striving to take her in his arms. But she calmly repulsed
him, saying: "Take care; someone may come in."
He murmured: "When can I see you quite alone, to tell you how I love
you?"
She leant over towards him and whispered: "I will come and pay you a
visit one of these days."