Beside the River; A Story of the Ardennes Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ... habits and a woman's; he is very absurd. Jeanne is too much of a child to have cared for Edmond Dupuis, and he certainly never thought seriously of her." While she sat thinking, Antoine had put the letter into his pocket and had buttoned up his coat. Now he nodded to his sister, and, running his fingers through his hair, he took up his hat and went out. Madame Boulotte went on thinking. The longer she thought over Antoine's suspicion about Jeanne, the more likely it seemed to be the truth, and, therefore, the more determined she became not to believe it. Resolutely she shut her eyes to all the little memories which link by link came starting up from the past year, till they formed a chain of evidence which only wilful blindness could discredit. But Madame Boulotte chose to be wilfully blind to the fact that any attachment to Jeanne had existed on the side of Edmond Dupuis. "He cared to go to the cottage because it gave Beside the Rivzr. I. I0 him an excuse for rowing, it was only for amusement," she said, her eyes sparkling and a glow of mortified pride burning under them; "he looked on Jeanne as a child. I understood poor dear Edmond thoroughly, he wanted a steadfast friend, and he had one while he was here;" she sighed softly, and then she frowned, and her smiling lips curved into their most cynical aspect. "But for that fossil of a cousin and this intriguing little widow we had still been dear friends. However it is sweet of the poor fellow to ask me to his marriage." The door opened and Antoine put in his head again. "If I bring Jeanne back with me can you make room for her to-day," he said. "I don't like leaving her in that desolate place." Madame...