Toward noon they began to turn their eyes from time to time in the direction of the village of Bezons, because the girl with the cow was coming. She passed by them every Sunday on her way to milk and change the pasture of her cow--the only cow in this district which ever went out of the stable to grass. It was pastured in a narrow field along the edge of the wood a little farther on. They soon perceived the girl, the only human being within vision, and were gladdened by the brilliant reflections thrown off by the tin milk-pail under the rays of the sun. They never talked about her. They were simply glad to see her, without understanding why. She was a big strong wench with red hair, burned by the heat of sunny days, a sturdy product of the environs of Paris. Once, finding them seated in the same place, she said: "Good morning. You two are always here, aren't you?" Luc le Ganidec, the bolder, stammered: "Yes, we come to rest." That was all. But the next Sunday she laughed on seeing them, laughed with a protecting benevolence and a feminine keenness which knew well enough that they were bashful. And she asked: "What are you doing there? Are you trying to see the grass grow?" Luc was cheered up by this, and smiled likewise: "Maybe we are." "That's pretty slow work," said she. He answered, still laughing: "Well, yes, it is." She went on. But coming back with a milk-pail full of milk, she stopped again before them, and said: "Would you like a little? It will taste like home." With the instinctive feeling that they were of the same peasant race as she, being herself perhaps also far away from home, she had divined and touched the spot. They were both touched. Then with some difficulty, she managed to make a little milk run into the neck of the glass bottle in which they carried their wine. And Luc drank first, with little swallows, stopping every minute to see whether he had drunk more than his half. Then he handed the bottle to Jean. She stood upright before them, her hands on her hips, her pail on the ground at her feet, glad at the pleasure which she had given. Then she departed, shouting: "Allons, adieu! Till next Sunday!" And as long as they could see her at all, they followed with their eyes her tall silhouette, which faded, growing smaller and smaller, seeming to sink into the verdure of the fields. When they were leaving the barracks the week after, Jean said to Luc: "Oughtn't we to buy her something good?" They were in great embarrassment before the problem of the choice of a delicacy for the girl with the cow. Luc was of the opinion that a little tripe would be the best, but Jean preferred some berlingots because he was fond of sweets. His choice fairly made him enthusiastic, and they bought at a grocer's two sous' worth of white and red candies. They ate their breakfast more rapidly than usual, being nervous with expectation. Jean saw her first. "There she is!" he cried. Luc added: "Yes, there she is."