GERMINAL
"I suppose I ought to jump on a boss? Thanks for showing me how to get into a mess!"
"Bend your backside to them, then," she shouted. By God! if my daughter had listened to me! It's not enough for them to kill the father. Perhaps you'd like me to say 'thank-you.' No, I'll have their skins first!"
Their voices were lost. Étienne saw her disappear, with her eagle nose, her flying white hair, her long, lean arms that gesticulated furiously. But the conversation of two young people behind caused him to listen. He had recognised Zacharie, who was waiting there, and who had just been addressed by his friend Mouquet.
"Are you here?" said the latter. "We will have something to eat, and then off to the Volcan."
"Directly. I've something to attend to."
"What, then?"
The lander turned and saw Philomène coming out of the screening shed. He thought he understood.
"Very well, if it's that. Then I go ahead."
"Yes, I'll catch you up."
As he went away, Mouquet met his father, old Mouque, who was also coming out of the Voreux. The two men simply wished each other good evening, the son taking the main road while the father went along by the canal.
Zacharie was already pushing Philomène in spite of her resistance into the same solitary path. She was in a hurry, another time; and they both disputed like old housemates. There was no fun in only seeing one another out of doors, especially in winter, when the earth is moist and there are no wheat fields to lie in.
"No, no, it's not that," he whispered impatiently. "I've something to say to you." He led her gently with his arm round her waist. Then, when they were in the shadow of the pit-bank, he asked if she had any money.
"What for?" she demanded.
Then he became confused, spoke of a debt of two francs which had reduced his family to despair.
"Hold your tongue! I've seen Mouquet; you're going again to the Volcan with him, where those dirty singer-women are."
He defended himself, struck his chest, gave his word of honour. Then, as she shrugged her shoulders, he said suddenly:
[107]
