Ah!dear，Ididnotknowwhatlovecouldbe，unitedtoyouth，talent，andbeauty。Gastonhasnoaffectations，hemoveswithaninstinctiveandunstudiedgrace。Whenwewalkalonetogetherinthewoods，hisarmroundmywaist，minerestingonhisshoulder，bodyfittingtobody，andheadtouchinghead，ourstepissoeven，uniform，andgentle，thatthosewhoseeuspassbynighttakethevisionforasinglefigureglidingoverthegraveledwalks，likeoneofHomer’simmortals。Alikeharmonyexistsinourdesires，ourthoughts，ourwords。Morethanonceonsomeeveningwhenapassingshowerhaslefttheleavesglisteningandthemoistgrassbrightwithamorevividgreen，ithaschancedthatweendedourwalkwithoututteringaword，aswelistenedtothepatteroffallingdropsandfeastedoureyesonthescarletsunset，flaringonthehilltopsordyeingwithawarmertonethegrayofthetreetrunks。
BeyondadoubtourthoughtsthenrosetoHeaveninsilentprayer，pleadingasitwere，forourhappiness。Attimesacrywouldescapeusatthemomentwhensomesuddenbendonthepathopenedupfreshbeauties。Whatwordscantellhowhoney-sweet，howfullofmeaning，isakisshalf-timidlyexchangedwithinthesanctuaryofnature——itisasthoughGodhadcreatedustoworshipinthisfashion。
Andwereturnhome，eachmoredeeplyinlovethanever。
AlovesopassionatebetweenoldmarriedpeoplewouldbeanoutrageonsocietyinParis；onlyintheheartofthewoods，likelovers，canwegivescopetoit。
Tocometoparticulars，Gastonisofmiddleheight——theheightpropertoallmenofpurpose。Neitherstoutnorthin，hisfigureisadmirablymade，withamplefulnessintheproportions，whileeverymotionisagile；heleapsaditchwiththeeasygraceofawildanimal。Whateverhisattitude，heseemstohaveaninstinctivesenseofbalance，andthisisveryrareinmenwhoaregiventothought。Thoughadarkman，hehasanextraordinarilyfaircomplexion；hisjet-blackhaircontrastsfinelywiththelustrelesstintsoftheneckandforehead。