The Argosy — page 399: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Tum Ancosy. Aunt Félscite. 377 anglais. La petite shall wait on us herself, and she can eat at the little table. Entrez! entrez! Monsieur, je vous en pre!” Félicité looked gloomy. Then, remembering that she must appear at her best, she hurried up the uneven staircase into the bare, com- fortless room she occupied at Dives. The walls were white-washed; a bed, a small basin, and a looking-glass, made up the furniture, unless a crucifix beside the bed be reckoned among it. Anxious as she was to get down stairs, Félicité yet stayed to rolk up her new bonnet- strings and gloves with the practised neatness of a Frenchwoman, then, with just a glance to make sure that her hair and her collar were unruffied, she loosened her lips into a smile, and descended. Genevitve was not in the tiny salle, but three plates of soup were steaming on the snowy cloth, the middle of the table being filled by a loaf or roll certainly three feet long. Madame had just placed her guests, and swathed her capacious chin - and bosom in an enormous serviette, when Geneviéve came in, bearing a plate of mussels, decorated with sprigs of purslane. She blushed as - Seton rose and bowed to her; but he did this with such ceremonious politeness, that Félicité felt tranquillized, especially when she saw him resume his seat, in obedience to her mother’s injunctions. ‘‘Ne vous dérangez pas, Monsieur, pour la petite—it is she who will serve us, is it not, ma bonne?” The old lady pinched the girl’s blushing cheek, and held her the empty soup-plate. For a moment Seton was vexed; but then it was only means to an end—breakfast would soon be over—he had got the privilege he coveted, of meeting Genevitve beneath her grandmother’s roof; and if he did not have her all to himself before long, he should deserve any ill-luck that might befall him. As he thought thus, he became con- scious, without looking up, that Feélicité’s eyes were intently fixed on him. He glanced quickly at her. What a world of passion there was in the gaze that met his for one instant, and then sank beneath it. It struck him with a chilly fear that Aunt Félicité had mistaken his manner towards her. Then, with his usual insouciance, he argued : “Well, and what then?—the only way is to keep her pacified by a little harmless attention, until Iam sure of my footing with the old lady; after that, la tante may go back to St. Roque as fast as she pleases, so long as Genevieve stays at Dives—and I will take care of that.” He could not help stealing a glance, every now and then, at the — graceful girl, as she moved about noiselessly, changing the plates as deftly as if waiting had been her true vocation. The bright sunshine streamed in through the open casements, bordered and overhung with vine-leaves, and the scent of the sweet August flowers came in with the wasps that circled and buzzed round the table. Seton thought it was like a scene in a book ; he gave himself up thoroughly to enjoyment, and even Feélicité joined in the merriment of the little party. GONMGIOO SS (CO) aA _