offer of his neighbor, and with the nuns, they improvised a sort
of table by unfolding newspapers on their knees.

Mouths were opening and closing constantly, swallowing, chewing,
gulping ferociously. Loiseau in his corner was very busy eating,
and in a low voice was urging his wife to imitate him. She resisted
for a long time, but, after a cramp, which ran through her stomach,
she yielded. Then her husband, rounding his sentences, asked their
"charming companion" whether she would allow him to offer a small
piece to Madame Loiseau. She replied:--"Why, certainly, Sir!"--with
an amiable smile, and held out the terrine. An embarrassment
occurred when the first bottle of claret was opened: there was
only one drinking cup. They passed it around after wiping it each
time. Cornudet alone, no doubt in a spirit of gallantry, put his
lips on the spot which was still moist from the lips of his neighbor.

Then, surrounded by people who were eating, suffocated by the
emanations of the food, Count and Countess de Breville, as well as
Mr. and Mrs. Carre-Lamadon, were suffering from that torture which
has perpetuated the name of Tantalus. All at once the manufacturer's
young wife heaved a sigh which caused every one to turn and look
at her; she was as white as the snow outside; her eyes closed,
her head fell forward, and she fainted. Her husband, alarmed, was
imploring everybody's help. All lost their heads, but the oldest
of the two Nuns holding in her arm the head of the unconscious
lady, slipped between her lips the drinking cup of Boule de Suif
and made her swallow a few drops of wine. The pretty lady moved,
opened her eyes, smiled and declared in a dying voice that she felt
better. However, to prevent a recurrence of the fainting, the Nun
obliged her to drink a full cup of claret, and she added:--"It is