The Awakening

and fast asleep when he came in. He talked to her while he undressed, telling her anecdotes and bits of news and gossip that he had gathered during the day. From his trousers pockets he took

eep, and answered him wi

le object of his existence, evinced so little interest in thi

room where they slept to take a look at them and make sure that they were resting comfortably. The result of his investigation was far

at Raoul had a high fever and needed looking after. Then he

id, and nothing had ailed him all day. Mr. Pontellier was too well acquainted with fever sym

ren, whose on earth was it? He himself had his hands full with his brokerage business. He could not be in two places at once; making

the bed, leaning her head down on the pillow. She said nothing, and refused to answer her husband when

noir. Blowing out the candle, which her husband had left burning, she slipped her bare feet into a pair of satin mules at

e house. There was no sound abroad except the hooting of an old owl in the top of a water-oak, and the everlas

uplifted arm. Turning, she thrust her face, steaming and wet, into the bend of her arm, and she went on crying there, not caring any longer to dry her face, her eyes, her arms. She could not have told why she was crying. Such ex

sing across her soul’s summer day. It was strange and unfamiliar; it was a mood. She did not sit there inwardly upbraiding her husband, lamenting at Fate, which had directed her foot

in dispelling a mood which might have held h

rning to the city to his business, and they would not see him again at the Island till the coming Saturday. He had regained his composure, whi

ht away from Klein’s hotel the evening before. She liked money as

Sister Janet!” she exclaimed, smoothing ou

r than that, my dear,” he laughed,

ontellier was a great favorite, and ladies, men, children, even nurses, were always on hand to say goodby to him.

husband. It was filled with friandises, with luscious and toothsome bits-the finest

fruit were brought to the dining-room; the bonbons were passed around. And the ladies, selecting with dainty and discriminating fingers and a litt