Echo (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. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ...unforgivable sin a woman can commit, to grow old " "Old What rubbish, mother You're not a bit old " Echo spoke spontaneously. Madame Bretellier leaned towards her, her eyes tender, her lips smiling, "Ch&rie I still look young to you, but not to these others, with their hard eyes. But what do they matter if my little daughter admires me?" She stood up, and stretched out her arms. "You think me still lovely, Echo?" Her daughter was slightly embarrassed, but she answered sincerely: "Yes, lovely." She handed her mother cigarettes, one of the little things she had remembered to have in readiness. Madame Bretellier took one, and let Echo light it for her. "You do not smoke, -petite?" "I have never tried. It might make me sick." "Pah No. That is what they tell little boys to frighten them. Try " She held out one to Echo, who with a childish sense of adventure lighted it and started to take little puffs. She liked the taste. "Well, are you very sick yet?" "No "--she laughed--" it's rather nice." "Let us go upstairs and I will teach you to smoke it properly, and then if you are very good I will give you a real cigarette to smoke, these are very light--nothing." They went up to the drawing-room, and Madame made Louise bring crowds of her own cushions, which she said she never travelled without, and put them on the couch. She made a high pile, too, on the floor beside it for Echo, and said: "Now, little innocent, sit on those, cross-legged like a Turk. We have no hookah, but you shall learn to smoke a cigarette properly.." The house-parlourmaid brought coffee, and Madame peremptorily called for a flask of liqueur brandy from...