would not have to touch the food in the inns. The neck of four
bottles emerged from among the food packages. She took the wing of
a chicken and, began to eat it delicately with one of those small
rolls which in Normandy are called "Regence."

All the eyes were attracted in her direction. Then the appetizing
smell filled the coach, making the nostrils dilate and mouths water,
while the jaws under the ears contracted painfully. The contempt
of the ladies for this girl was becoming ferocious, developing
into a desire to kill her or throw her, with her drinking cup, her
basket and her provisions, out of the coach on the snow.

All the while, Loiseau had been devouring with his eyes the pot of
chicken. He said:--"Well, well, the lady has been more provident
than all of us! There are persons who always manage to think of
everything."--She raised her head towards him:--"Would you like
some, Sir?" "It is hard to fast since morning--" And looking
around him he added:--"In moments like this, one is glad to find
obliging people."

He had a newspaper which he unfolded on his knees in order not to
soil his trousers, and with the point of a knife, which he always
carried in his pocket, he picked a leg thoroughly varnished with
jelly, bit it off and chewed it with such evident relish, that
there arose in the coach a heavy sigh of distress.

Boule de Suif, with a humble and gentle voice, proposed to the good
Sisters to share her luncheon. They both accepted instantly and,
without raising their eyes, began to eat very fast, after having
muttered a few words of thanks. Neither did Cornudet decline the