Book #1: Suzy's Dream (Chapter 6 - Part 2)

Chapter 6 continued...

Then, without further hesitation, Suzy boldly took the road, which would lead her to Madame Arnay's, resigned to accept the departure for Cannes if Lady Graham still desired her for a traveling companion. But in the depths of her heart, in spite of all her resolutions, the little girl inside Suzy fervently wished that the young woman would not desire her to go.

Mme. Arnay had not yet resumed her day in an official manner. Her close friends—and they were numerous, since Mme. Arnay had a manner—one open wide to understanding closeness — and one always knew how to find it on Thursdays with the striking of four o'clock.

And in fact, when Suzy pushed aside the door of the large salon of Mme. Arnay’s, the room was already filled with visitors who spoke nothing of importance with plenty of smiles, even wit, on occasion.

Seated by the fireplace, enveloped by the flattering shade of a low screen, Madame Arnay spoke in the pretty jargon of a socialite who was up to date with all the news. Her voice, peppered with somewhat high notes, dominated the hum of the general conversation.

A little farther in the room, near the luncheon-table, Germaine, chatty and smiling, was serving tea while standing in the middle of a group of young ladies, all of them looking picturesque under their plumed Gainsborough hats or tiny caps. Their silhouettes modelled the narrow dresses, with sober folds, looking much like English dilletantes. All were very animated in their conversations, and some of them sometimes had funny and daring words—strange on their lips of eighteen—which brought prompt retorts from the young men surrounding them, imitating a very American freedom. 

On the threshold of the salon Suzy stopped, taking in the entire meeting with her gaze. Suddenly, her heart picked up in pace, for opposite her, talking to Germaine, stood Georges de Flers.

Afraid that he would notice the look of pleasure that swept over her, Suzy quickly entered the room, a little frightened at having so many greetings and nods to offer.

Right away, Georges de Flers spotted her. Standing there, he waited for her to seem to notice him. He followed her with his eyes, already rediscovering the same charm as a month earlier at Le Castel, and contemplating the supple grace of her movements.

At last, she came and held out her hand to him, a pretty smile on her lips.

“How it reminds me of the good times at Le Castel to find you here,” she said, with an imperceptible quiver in her voice.

“For me as well,” he said.

A vague desire filled him to hold himself back from the little warm hand she offered to him so frankly and without hesitation. He let that desire fall away, however, and went on in a tone of cheerful banter, removing from his words anything too direct. 

“It seems like it’s been an eternity since I’ve heard your voice. I thought that was you when I saw you this afternoon. I never dared to hope to find you so soon after your stay!”

“What?” Germaine said, interrupting. “Have you already seen M. de Flers today?”

“Yes, as I was going to the Avenue du Bois—”

“Ah, for your famous lesson. Well, did you succeed?”

A warmth filled Suzy's cheeks.

“I’ll tell you about it later,” she replied, lowering her voice.

Germaine didn’t persist. She had enough to do to pour out her thoughts to two young girls, both of them “bosom friends” who were replacing Gladys—a friend of the heart, too — now back in England.

“You must be frozen from the fog,” she said to Suzy, however. “Have a cup of tea or hot chocolate to warm up. I'll serve it to you.”

She was preparing to get up, but Suzy stopped her.

“Don't worry, I’ll get everything I need. Here, I feel like I'm a bit at home!”

“That’s a great notion. Suzy, you are a dear, and I adore you!” Germaine said, eagerly resuming her place between her two dear friends.

“Could I not, Mademoiselle, have the honor of serving you?” Georges de Flers interjected. “You may make use of me for whatever you need.”

A flame of pleasure slipped into Suzy's eyes.

“Thank you, and I’ll ask you to pass me that cup of tea. Because all the tasks are easy for you,” she finished playfully, returning to the tone she had used with him at Le Castel.

Unaccustomed to hearing him speak, she felt a charmed surprise at seeing him address her in that respectful manner which she enjoyed, especially after the wound of self-esteem felt from Mme. de Vricourt.

The pleasure of the present moment caused Suzy, for a moment anyways, to forget her worries, and the reason why she had gone to her aunt's house. The same unconscious hope that had captured her an hour before, when she had met Georges, awoke, joyful and vivacious.

He brought her the cup of tea she had asked for, and continued to stand beside her, careful to serve her like a young queen. No one in the drawing-room seemed surprised by this, since this was Georges de Flers’s usual manner of acting. 

“Don’t stand there looking at me like that,” she said gaily. “You intimidate me, and you’ll cause me to spill my tea or burn myself. If you continue to do so, it’s likely that I’ll commit some such mishap!”

“Oh, really? How could I bring about such catastrophes? Then will you allow me to sit here, near you, in order to avoid something from happening?”

Without waiting for an answer, Georges took the chair next to Suzy's.

Le rêve de Suzy is in the public domain. All original additions, including translations, illustrations and chapter summaries, are copyright © 2025 by Marriah K. Nissen and may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. All rights reserved.