The Pomp of the Lavilettes, Complete

s nurse, and no one had seriously interfered, though the Cure had not at all vaguely offered a protest to Madame Lavilette. But Madame Lavilette was now in the humour to defy or

haps, could have given Madame Lavilette the best advice and warning; but, in truth, he enjoyed what he considered a piquant position. Once, drawing at his pipe, as little like an Englishman as possible, he tried to

sitting in an arbour of the Manor garden, ha

e of the voices; the ot

s. It is at the Seigneury. Here is an order on the Seigneur Duhamel. Go there in two days and get the money.

ces becoming indistinct. He sat for a few moments moveless, f

oney were

for making war against the British Government. After the money left the hands of the men who gave it-Lavilette and t

throw up his hands in good highwayman fashion, and, well disguised, could get away with the money without being discovered. O

t of celebration of his plan, he opened his cigar case,

come-down, I must say! But a man has to live, and

and enjoyed the forbidden a

have done no more than give it a natural fulness. Perhaps it was a sort of vanity, perhaps a kind of courage, which made him resolutely straighten himself, in spite of the deadly weight dragging his shoulder down. He might be melancholy in secret, but in public he was gay and hopeful, and talked of everything except himself. On

d sarsaparilla roots) he carried to his room; and he religiously tried them all by turn. Each seemed to do him good for a few days, then to fail of effect; and he straightway tried another, with renewed hope on every occasion, and subsequent di

on and companionship. He did not delude the villagers by these sorrowful deceptions, but they made believe he did. There w

could see straight through the house into the harvest-fields at the back. Presently a figure crossed the lane of light, and made a cheerful living foreground to the blue sky beyond the farther door. The light and ardour of the scene gave him a thrill of pleasure, and hurried his footsteps. The air was palpitating with sleepy comfort round him, and he felt a new vitality pass into him: his imag

net, caught the reflected light, and the pink calico of her dress threw a glow over her cheeks and forehead, and gave a good gleam to her eyes. She had in her hands a dish of strawberries. It was a charming picture in the eyes of a man to whom the feelings of robustness

d the big bread-tray by the stove, where the yeast was as industrious as the reapers beyond in the fields. She was in keeping with the chromo of the

and, but the knot tightened, and it tipped back o

nglish, "it's kind of you to

as beside her in an instant and took the dish out of her hands. Plac

he asked

off the sunbonnet, and r

as many as

s fagged. She instantly thought of a cordial she had in the house, the gift of a nun from the Ursuline Convent in Quebec; a precious little bottle which she had kept for the an

till exciting her sympath

m'sieu'?" she aske

She instinctively felt that it would s

wicker seat, but he would never admit fatigue. He threw

ks; I'd rath

natural pink and white-like a piece of fine porcelain. It was a face without care, without vice, without fear, and without morals. For the absence of vice wit

e took the cork out; "better than

ss, and as soon as he saw the colour and t

anded him a glass brimming over; "but you must

ttered by the glance of his eye-a look of flattery which was par

red, with a little encouraging nod towa

bottle and poured her g

, though why, she did not know; for, on the surface, this was only dutiful hospitality to a distinguished

tle cough; "he's a busy gentleman." The rather rude and flippant sen

d, as if in apology for something or other. "Yes, he's ever so far

e lazy droning of the locusts and grasshoppers. A driver was calling to his oxen down the dusty road, the warning bark of a dog came across the fields from

e intentional warmth and meaning of his own, drinking very slowly to the last drop; and then

ere's to the nun that made it," he added, ma

ne third of it was still in the glass. She turne

houldn't be wasted. Voila, every drop of it now!

rank it off. He still held the empty glas

ittle?" Perhaps she was surprised that he did

be health and piety-I need both," he adde

e raised his glass again, toasting her, but paused

y head and in all of me. Oh, I feel so warm all, through, an

ad become softer and more brilliant und

off this time; but next

e more, and let the cor

med very fond of this strong liqueur. She placed

e," she said suddenly, and we

resently he stood up, and throwing back his shoulder, with a little ostentation of health, he went over to the chintz-c

By Jove! it would. It's as good as the Gardivani I got that blessed day when we chaps of the Ninetieth breakfasted wi

er, forgotten all about her. As she came in he made a quick, courteous movement to rise-too quick; for a sharp p

his seat, but as instantly decided not to notice his indisposition, and turned towards the t

, you must sit down and eat a cake," she added adroitly. "They are very nice, and I made them my

rank off the whole of t

d there was a little awe to her interest also. To think-she was sitting here, talking easily to a man who had eaten at kings' tables-with the king! Yet she was at ease too-since she ha

Christine, but she had admiration of ability, and was obedient to the charm of temperament. Whenever Ferrol had met her he had lavished little attentio

the first time that it was not easy to look into his eyes, and

s if mechanically, he poured out a glassful, and after a little time, still another, and at last, apparently unconsciously, poured her out one also, and handed it to he

es, and gives the gay heart!"

warm, and she had the animal-like fo

e strawberries in her lap. Her fingers, stained with red, lay beside the bowl. All the strings of conscious duty were loose,

-With that touch thrilling her, she sprang to her feet, and turned away from him towards the table. Her face was glowing like a peony, and a tr

nne heur

ht," she said, her body sl

fe-What does it matter! Ce ne

d the distant sound of a horse's hoofs. He let her go, and turned towards the fron

her shoulder, softly; and, picking u

t still on her, and began to brood. She vaguely heard the rattle of a buggy-Christine's-as it passed the house, an

e fields. The air she knew, and the voice she knew. The chanso

en before she could hear them,

ere's some one

bber in the

s creeping thro

-vous-en!

Ferrol had drunk near half a pint of the liqueur! She must get another bottle of it somehow. It

urnip field, making a short cut home. His straw hat was pushed back on his head, his scythe was over his shoulder. He had cut the last swathe in the field-now for Sophie. He was not handsome, and she had known tha

dining-room, the words

you please, I o

my grandfa

w you're a de

-vous-en!