The brown pelisse kept them warm, and the nook was so small that Miette was compelled to sit almost on Silvere's knees.

And they would chatter and then lapse into silence, overcome with languor, lulled by the warmth of their embrace and the monotonous beating of the shower.

For hours and hours they remained there, with that same enjoyment of the rain which prompts little children to stroll along solemnly in stormy weather with open umbrellas in their hands.

After a while they came to prefer the rainy evenings, though their parting became more painful on those occasions.

Miette was obliged to climb the wall in the driving rain, and cross the puddles of the Jas-Meiffren in perfect darkness.