At night, when she was seized with a fit of coughing, she would leave the room and go out on the landing, so that Jacques might not hear her.
One day, when they had both gone into the country, Jacques saw a tree the foliage of which was turning to yellow.

He gazed sadly at Francine, who was walking slowly and somewhat dreamily.
Francine saw Jacques turn pale and guessed the reason of his pallor.
"You are foolish," said she, kissing him, "we are only in July, it is three months to October, loving one another day and night as we do, we shall double the time we have to spend together.

And then, besides, if I feel worse when the leaves turn yellow, we will go and live in a pine forest, the leaves are always green there." * * * * * In October Francine was obliged to keep her bed.

Jacques' friend attended her.

The little room in which they lived was situated at the top of the house and looked into a court, in which there was a tree, which day by day grew barer of foliage.