Citoyenne Jacqueline, by Sarah Tytler (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE CHANGE OF BRIDES--JACQUELINE AT BAY--TAKES SANCTUARY. HE Lussacs were to rest three days at Faye. On the second day Jacqueline was summoned to her father's room to have an interview with him. A solemn proceeding, calculated to impress her beforehand. Monsieur's room was as unlike as possible to Madame's. It was sombre and austere; its walls were bare, except for heavy old bookcases and books; its chairs were covered with black.leather. The traces of costliness were in its surgical instruments, chemical apparatus, and specimens illustrative of natural history. The last did not increase the cheerfulness of the room, for the traces of moths and the signs of decay were A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW. 179 visible in the stuffed crocodile whose gaping jaws guarded the door, in the hook-beaked eagle on its perch by the window, and in the mysterious roc's egg hanging from the ceiling. When Jacqueline entered, she found, to her astonishment, the whole three gentlemen of the party assembled. Monsieur sat in his chair at his bureau, supported on the right hand by the Marquis, and on the left by the Chevalier. Jacqueline paused on the threshold, and the gentlemen saluted her. She recovered herself in a moment, saluted them in return, and passed up the room to her father with something of the grace and ease which had characterized her entrance into the auberge on the night of La Sarte's fete. Her woman's heart was beginning to burst its swaddling-bands, to flutter, to beat--to bid her put her hand on her breast and hide the wound there, to hold up her head, and smile, and die hiding it--now that she was among people who, although they were of her own grade, did not understand her, any more than did the peasant circle at Faye, and might misjudge her like them. 1 M...