midday
The clearstarcher always carried a certain basket of clothes to her customer each week , because it gave her a pretext for going into the forge , as it was on her way . As soon as she turned the corner of the street in which it was situated she felt as lighthearted as if she were going to the country . The black charcoal dust in the road , the black smoke rising slowly from the chimneys , interested and pleased her as much as a mossy path through the woods . Afar off the forge was red even at midday , and her heart danced in time with the hammers . Goujet was expecting her and making more noise than usual , that she might hear him at a great distance . She gave Etienne a light tap on his cheek and sat quietly watching these two -- this man and boy , who were so dear to her -- for an hour without speaking . When the sparks touched her tender skin she rather enjoyed the sensation .