Child of a Century, Complete
aunt at the window sewing, the little room filled with flowers, the
certain narrow circle from which they never escape. I confess that such isolated life, which is found here and there in small towns, under a thousand unknown roofs,
ty of everything around her, of furniture and dress, it was easy to recognize mode, that is to say, life; she did not live for this alone,
it was evident that she was at the same time profound in thought and fertile in resource; an intelligence at once broad and free soared gently over a simpl
d Paris during the winter; from time to time she dipped into the
e not exactly joy itself, was constant and unalterable; it might b
med to say that the sweet serenity of her brow was not of this world but had come from God, and that she would return it to Him spotless in
and looking at the sun. I asked her to sing, and she did so with good grace. In the mean time I leaned on the window-sill and watched the birds flitting about the garden. A saying of Montaigne's came into my h
te of myself. "What repose! What
astonishment; Madame Pierson stopped short. I became red as
seen the evening before was lying in the grass;
e entered without knocking and bowed to Madame Pierson; it seemed to me that his face, which I considered a bad omen, darkened a little when he saw
yet jerky way of speaking that characterizes the pedant. Even his manner of walking, which was not that of youth and health, repelled me; as for his glance, it might be said that he had n
is was that it was true.) One of his friends, who had introduced him there, had been expelled from school for having seduced a girl; a terrible thing to do, very sad. He paid Madame Pierson a thousand compliments for her charitable deeds throughout the countr
isgust, I sat down on the grass and began to play with th
as afflicted with the habit of sitting
f there were none worse the world would get along very
uncle the cure had spoken to him of a poor devil who was unable to earn his daily bread. He lived in su
make and hoping she would say something in order to efface the memory of
eturned. We entered a greenho
, each flower must have its drop of water and ray of sunlight in order that it might be gay and happy as an angel; so
you have seen all I posses
the favor of admittance here, permit me to return, and I w
ouched it with respect, not d
; I saw myself walking through the village and knocking at the garden gate. "Oh, my poor hear
what can I say of that time except that I saw her? "To be with those we love," said Bruyere, "suffices; to dream, to talk
ottage. There was a little bench near the edge of the wood where I was accustomed to rest after dinner; we met here regularly, as though by chance. In the morning, music, reading; in the evening, cards with the aunt as in the days of my father; and she always there, smil
able, profound. With all the chains, with all the pains, and I may even say, with all the disgust with which the world has surrounded it, buried as it is under a mountain of prejudices which distort and deprave
he senses, the head, the heart, and explain it if you can. You will find nothing but two bodies, one here, the other there, and between them, what? Air, space, immensity. O blind fools! who fondly imagine yourselves men, and who reason of love! Have you talked with it? No, you have felt it. Y
would that I could count, drop by drop, all the water that fell while we were sitting there, while she
of a woman who begins to attract you! At first it seems as though everything that passes between you is timid and tentative, but soon there is born a strange joy, an echo answers you; you know a dual life. What a touch! What a strange attraction! And when love is sure
should have been more bold, for she had made such a strong impression on me, that I never quitted her without transports of love. But there was something in the frankness and the confidence she pla
e other topic. I did not discern her motive, but it was not prudery; it seemed to me that at such times her face took on a stern aspect, and a wave of f
lle; but there was something youthful and fresh about her. The dance, which she loved for itself as an amusing exercise, seemed to inspire her with a frolicsome gayety. Once launched on the floor it seemed to me she allow
ling of fear; the idea of an avowal was enough to render me serious in the midst of gayety.
ad known her, and said to myself: "Why ask for more? Does not this suffice? Who knows, perhaps God has nothing more for you? If I should tell her that I love her, wha
sadness took possession of me. Night was coming on and she lighted
he matter?
d aside
he air was balmy, the moon was rising beyond those lindens where I had first met her. I fell into a profound r
and stood
t?" she ag
etching out beneath us had recalled my fath
ver I found a bench I sat down only to rise precipitately. Toward midnight I approached Madame Pierson's house; she was at the window. Seeing
sh voice singing the refrain of a romance, and at the same instant a flower fell on my shoulder
at this hour
ut replying and entered it, I stopped before a plot of grass in the centre of t
looked attentively at the rays of the moon. She made a few steps toward me and I adva
come here every day and you are always welcome, are you not? Is not that enough? What more can
xpecting a reply. As I remained overwhelmed with sadness, she gently withdre
n taken, and I decided to go away. I arose, my heart bleeding but firm. I looked at the hou
out in the morning. The poor fellow was astonished, but I made him a sign to obey and ask
nd my ideas became confused; I bore my hand to my forehead and found it bathed in sweat. A violent fever made my limbs tremble; I could hardly reach my bed with Larive's assistance. My thoughts were so confused that I had no recollection of what had happened. The day passed; toward evening I heard the sound of instruments. It was the Sunday dance, and I asked
e months, and for one
at your age is call
t a resolution to co
ready esteemed you, th
for the past, nor fo
i
ove is nothing more
seek to arouse it; it
ssity of pleasing tho
dangerous thing, and
ning it
r than you, and ask y
n for you to try to fo
sed between us can n
got
of you without sorrow
return, I find that
ur action as the fi
hip and
TTE PI