FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   2388   2389   2390   2391   2392   2393   2394   2395   2396   2397   2398   2399   2400   2401   2402   2403   2404   2405   2406   2407   2408   2409   2410   2411   2412  
2413   2414   2415   2416   2417   2418   2419   2420   2421   2422   2423   2424   2425   2426   2427   2428   2429   2430   2431   2432   2433   2434   2435   2436   2437   >>   >|  
so dreaded by the framemaker, had been arranged by Madame Plumet unknown to all, and the damning inscription was also in her handwriting. "I need not add that Mademoiselle Charnot, upset by the scene, had a momentary attack of faintness. However, she soon regained her usual firm and dignified demeanor, which seems to show that she is a woman of energy. "But the interest of the story does not cease here. I think the betrothal is definitely at an end. A betrothal is always a difficult thing to renew, and after the publicity which attended the rupture of this one, I do not see how they can make it up again. One thing I feel sure of is, that Mademoiselle Jeanne Charnot will never change her name to Madame Dufilleul. "Do not, however, exaggerate your own chances. They will be less than you think for some time yet. I do not believe that a young girl who has thus been wounded and deceived can forget all at once. There is even the possibility of her never forgetting--of living with her sorrow, preferring certain peace of mind, and the simple joys of filial devotion, to all those dreams of married life by which so many simple-hearted girls have been cruelly taken in. "In any case do not think of returning yet, for I know you are capable of any imprudence. Stay where you are, examine your documents, and wait. "My mother and I are passing through a bitter trial. She is ill, I may say seriously ill. I would sooner bear the illness than my present anxiety. "Your friend, "SYLVESTRE LAMPRON. "P. S.--Just as I was about to fasten up this letter, I got a note from Madame Plumet to tell me that Monsieur and Mademoiselle Charnot have left Paris. She does not know where they have gone." I became completely absorbed over this letter. Some passages I read a second time; and the state of agitation into which it threw me did not at once pass away. I remained for an indefinite time without a notion of what was going on around me, entirely wrapped up in the past or the future. The Italian attendant brought me back to the present with a jerk of his elbow. He was replacing the last register in the huge drawers of the table. He and I were alone. My colleagues had left, and our first sitting had come to an end without my assistance, though before my eyes. They could not have gone far, so, somewhat ashamed of my
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   2388   2389   2390   2391   2392   2393   2394   2395   2396   2397   2398   2399   2400   2401   2402   2403   2404   2405   2406   2407   2408   2409   2410   2411   2412  
2413   2414   2415   2416   2417   2418   2419   2420   2421   2422   2423   2424   2425   2426   2427   2428   2429   2430   2431   2432   2433   2434   2435   2436   2437   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Charnot

 
Mademoiselle
 

Madame

 

letter

 

betrothal

 

simple

 

Plumet

 

present

 

Monsieur

 

friend


sooner

 

bitter

 

mother

 

passing

 

illness

 

fasten

 

LAMPRON

 

completely

 

anxiety

 

SYLVESTRE


indefinite

 

register

 

drawers

 

replacing

 

brought

 

colleagues

 

ashamed

 

sitting

 
assistance
 

attendant


Italian

 

agitation

 
passages
 

remained

 

documents

 

wrapped

 

future

 

notion

 

absorbed

 

difficult


energy

 

interest

 
publicity
 

attended

 

rupture

 
handwriting
 

inscription

 

damning

 

dreaded

 
framemaker