The Awakening

elate a story or incident with much expressive gesture of her perfect hands; Robert and Mrs. Pontellier sitting idle

llier when he arrived. Since the age of fifteen, which was eleven years before, Robert each summer at Grand Isle had constituted himself the devot

died between summers; then Robert posed as an inconsolable, prostrating himself at the feet of

aze at her fair companion as she m

r once, and she let me adore her. It was ‘Robert, come; go; stand up; sit down; do this; do that; see if t

k. You were always there under

as Ratignolle appeared on the scene, then it W

l laugh. The right hand jealous of the left! The heart jealous of the soul! But for that matter, the Cr

or Madame Ratignolle; of sleepless nights, of consuming flames till the very sea sizzled when he

arceur-gros

to guess how much of it was jest and what proportion was earnest. It was understood that he had often spoken words of love to Madame Ratignolle, without an

s dabbled with in an unprofessional way. She liked the dabbling. She fe

seemed a more tempting subject than at that moment, seated there like some se

certain ease and freedom which came, not from long and close acquaintance with them, but from a natural aptitude. Robert followed her w

! Elle s’y connait, el

be thoughtlessness on his part; yet that was no reason she should submit to it. She did not remonstrate, except again to repulse him quietly but firmly. He offered no apology. The picture co

g the sketch critically she drew a broad smudge of paint a

ngs into the house. She sought to detain them for a little talk and some pleasantry. But they were greatly in earnest. They had only come to investigate the contents of the bonbon

e south, charged with the seductive odor of the sea. Children freshly befurbelowed,

, which she pinned securely. She complained of faintness. Mrs. Pontellier flew for the cologne water and a

ering if there were not a little imagination responsible for its

sess. Her little ones ran to meet her. Two of them clung about her white skirts, the third she took from its nurse and with a thousand endea

ert of Mrs. Pontellier. It was not

nk not.” Her glance wandered from his face away toward the Gulf, who

ss your bath. Come on. The water must be

, and put it on her head. They descended the steps, and walked away together t