He watched Therese who was still
palpitating from the novels which she read.
After a year of indifferent waiting they both were again tormented by
desire. One evening while shutting up the shop, Laurent spoke to Therese
in the passage.
"Do you want me to come to your room to-night," he asked passionately.
She started with fear. "No, let's wait. Let's be prudent."
"It seems to me that I've already waited a long time," he went on. "I'm
sick of waiting."
Therese, her hands and face burning hot, looked at him wildly. She
seemed to hesitate, and then said quickly:
"Let's get married."
CHAPTER XVII
Laurent left the arcade with a strained mind. Therese had filled him
with the old longing lusts again. He walked along with his hat in his
hand, so as to get the fresh air full in his face.
On reaching the door of his hotel in the Rue Saint-Victor, he was afraid
to go upstairs, and remain alone. A childish, inexplicable, unforeseen
terror made him fear he would find a man hidden in his garret. Never had
he experienced such poltroonery. He did not even seek to account for
the strange shudder that ran through him. He entered a wine-shop and
remained an hour there, until midnight, motionless and silent at
a table, mechanically absorbing great glasses of wine.
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