FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96  
97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   >>   >|  
where one can neither see nor breathe. The baby would not live a week in such a place. And, besides, Madame Menoux would not have time to attend to the child. She has never had a servant, and what with waiting on customers and having to cook meals in time for her husband's return from the museum, she never has a moment to spare. Oh! if she could, she would be very happy to keep the little fellow with her." "It is true," said Marianne sadly; "there are some poor mothers whom I pity with all my heart. This person you speak of is not in poverty, and yet is reduced to this cruel separation. For my part, I should not be able to exist if a child of mine were taken away from me to some unknown spot and given to another woman." La Couteau doubtless interpreted this as an attack upon herself. Assuming the kindly demeanor of one who dotes on children, the air which she always put on to prevail over hesitating mothers, she replied: "Oh, Rougemont is such a very pretty place. And then it's not far from Bayeux, so that folks are by no means savages there. The air is so pure, too, that people come there to recruit their health. And, besides, the little ones who are confided to us are well cared for, I assure you. One would have to be heartless to do otherwise than love such little angels." However, like Celeste, she relapsed into silence on seeing how significantly Mathieu was looking at her. Perhaps, in spite of her rustic ways, she understood that there was a false ring in her voice. Besides, of what use was her usual patter about the salubrity of the region, since that lady, Madame Seguin, wished to have a nurse at her house? So she resumed: "Then it's understood, madame, I will bring you the best we have, a real treasure." Valentine, now a little tranquillized as to her fears for herself, found strength to speak out. "No, no, I won't pledge myself in advance. I will send to see the nurses you bring to the office, and we shall see if there is one to suit me." Then, without occupying herself further about the woman, she turned to Marianne, and asked: "Shall you nurse your baby yourself?" "Certainly, as I did with the others. We have very decided opinions on that point, my husband and I." "No doubt. I understand you: I should much like to do the same myself; but it is impossible." La Couteau had remained there motionless, vexed at having come on a fruitless errand, and regretting the loss of the present which she
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96  
97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Marianne

 

mothers

 

understood

 
Couteau
 
husband
 

Madame

 
angels
 

wished

 

resumed

 

Seguin


Celeste
 

rustic

 

madame

 

Perhaps

 

silence

 
Mathieu
 

patter

 

salubrity

 

However

 
Besides

relapsed

 
significantly
 

region

 

nurses

 

opinions

 

decided

 

understand

 
Certainly
 

errand

 

regretting


present

 

fruitless

 

impossible

 

remained

 

motionless

 

strength

 

tranquillized

 

treasure

 

Valentine

 

pledge


occupying

 

turned

 

advance

 

office

 

person

 

poverty

 
reduced
 

separation

 

fellow

 

Menoux