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Part IV
"
RieuxshookhisheadinhisusualwayandsaidthatthiswasamatterforRambert:hehadchosenhappinessandRieuxcouldnotargueagainstthat.Hefeltunabletojudgewhatwasrightorwronginthematter.
"Sointhatcasewhyareyoutellingmetohurry?"
ItwasRieux’sturntosmile.
"Perhapsit’sbecauseI,too,wouldliketodosomethingforhappiness."
Thenextdaytheydidnotdiscussanything,butworkedtogether.ThefollowingweekRambertwasfinallysettledinthelittleSpanishhouse.Theymadeupabedforhimintheliving-room.Sincetheyoungmendidnotcomehomeformeals,andsincehehadbeentoldtogooutaslittleaspossible,helivedalone,mostofthetime,ormadeconversationwiththeoldmother.Shewasdry,energetic,dressedinblack,withawrinkledbrownfaceunderverycleangreyhair.Shekeptquiet,butwouldsmilewithhereyessparklingwhenshelookedatRambert.
Atothertimesshewouldaskifhewasn’tafraidoftakingtheplaguetohiswife.Hethoughtthiswasarisktheyhadtotake,butaminuteone,whileifhestayedinthetowntherewasachanceofthembeingseparatedforever.
"She’snice?"theoldwomanaskedwithasmile.
"Verynice."
"Pretty?"
"Ithinkso."
"Ah!That’swhy,"shesaid.
Rambertthoughtaboutit.Ofcourse,thatwaswhy,butitcouldn’tonlybeforthatreason.
