Over the previous few weeks, France seemed to have resumed being its old mostly carefree self, the horror of several terror attacks, including two in Paris, not forgotten but perhaps compartmentalized.

Some could dare to hope a corner had been turned.

France had hosted the 31-day European Championship of soccer, which attracted hundreds of thousands of fans to massive stadiums and fan zones in from Lille to Nice. It went off with hardly a hitch — aside from moronic brawling by English and Russian hooligans early in the tournament.

The French Open tennis tournament had seen no trouble, during its May schedule, and the Tour de France was up and rolling.

Yesterday, the Bastille Day parade, in Paris, lured the usual big crowd and produced no moments of danger.

Maybe the government dared hope a return to normalcy, too. Francois Hollande, the country’s president, had said that a state of emergency would be lifted in a few days.

Maybe the terrorists had been driving into hiding, it seems some were thinking. Perhaps concern over murderous attacks did not have to cloud the collective conscience, going forward.

And then came the attack last night in the southern French city of Nice.

A large truck driven by a man who apparently wanted to kill as many people as possible, indiscriminately, tore through a spectator zone near the beach where thousands had gathered to watch a Bastille Day fireworks show. More than 80 people died, including the driver, gunned down by the police.

It was shown, anew, that these extremists see any target, especially in France, including children, as fair game — much to the anguish of one correspondent.

And now France goes back behind a cloud. At least a little.

Manuel Valls, the country’s prime minister, probably was being realistic when he said: “Times have changed and France is going to have to live with terrorism, and we must face this together and show our collective sang-froid.” (Literally, “cold blood”)

Many on social media reacted angrily to his statement, but security forces cannot be everywhere and anticipate every attack and every variety of attack (a rented truck?) and protect millions of “soft targets” day in and day out.

Instead of toning down the threat level, Holland today extended the country’s “state of emergency” for another three months.

It seems likely that those who feel compelled to murder civilians will be with us for a while. Perhaps a very long while, until even the radical Islamic fringe finds no reward in inciting terror.

And the violence will erupt in many places around the world.

Earlier in the day, we had walked past the Bataclan theater, the deadliest place during the multiple terror attacks of November 13. It lies under tarps and shrouding. One wonders how (or if) it will ever again be used.

Only a few blocks away are the former offices of Charlie Hebdo, where journalists were slaughtered earlier in 2015.

Everyone living in France, or visiting, probably needs to accept the possibility, however remote, that a terror attack will touch them.

They need not be immobilized by it. They can do their small part by paying attention to their surroundings and assessing potential risk — and dealing with it as best they can.

That uncomfortable place is where France finds iteself, again, the morning after the latest attack.