Book #1: Suzy's Dream (Chapter 9 - Part 1)

Chapter 9

Madame Douvry, who was working alone in the drawing room, suddenly set her work aside; and, as she had done many times during the day, took up again from her blotter the sheet of bluish paper covered with Suzy's distinctive handwriting. The letters from Cannes were full of tenderness, and now the only sensitive link that brought Mme. Douvry closer to her child, who had already been gone for more than six weeks. Under the soft light of the lamp, Madame Douvry began to read again what her daughter had written.

“‘Darling mother,

I don't want you to worry when tomorrow you don't see my scribble appear in your mail. That’s why I’m seizing a little moment of freedom to write to you. Lady Graham is giving a garden party now, and has entrusted me, at my request, with the task of supervising the arrangement of the flowers in the drawing rooms where serious people—those who do not play tennis! — will seek retreat if need be. I am therefore transformed into a very busy person, for I wish to live up to my assignment, especially as M. de Flers is going to be one of Lady Graham's guests today, and I am afraid of his artist's eyes.

“First of all, let me tell you, Maman, what a delightful surprise it was for me to learn that M. de Flers had seen you on the eve of his departure for Cannes.

“How kind of him to have thought of bringing me news from you!

“I didn't know he had arrived here, and when I saw him, three days ago enter Le Cercle Nautique, where we were listening to a concert at that moment, I was suddenly taken back a few months to the time when I was still at Le Castel and in Paris, near you, Maman.

“I have used and taken advantage of his kindness by making him relate the smallest details of his visit with you. I thought it so good to know that he had spoken to you, that he had breathed the air of my dear home. As I listened to him, I seemed to be suddenly drawn closer to all of you!

“So, I thanked him wholeheartedly for the delight he gave me. Last night, he asked me if I would allow him to make my portrait the subject of his next watercolor, and I quickly gave my consent, with the approval of Lady Graham, who is a charming friend to me.

“Lady Graham and I both rarely leave each other. In the mornings, we take long rides, especially on horseback, and in a large company of others, for Lady Anne (as I call her) has many friends in Cannes. And here I am again just as audacious in equestrian as I once was, in America, when I was a little girl. In the afternoons and evenings, I accompany Lady Graham into society, or else I help her to receive guests at her house, which does not trouble me at all. As to that, Maman, I confess it to you in a hushed tone because you will find, when you hear me speak in this way, that I am not a reasonable person.

“Finally, when we are alone, we make music; Lady Anne adores Wagner, me, Schumann, but it doesn't matter! Our particular preferences are very well suited to one another. We also read, and I am in the process of becoming acquainted with Shelley, Tennyson, and even Browning. See, Maman, what a learned woman I am going to become!

“Any possible distractions don’t make me forget that I am separated from all of you. As soon as I have a moment of solitude, I take up your dear letters again and then, for a moment, I think I am with you, I see my home and I am living there again.

“Darling mother, I still feel you are troubled and sad, although you don’t tell me. And it is the cruelest of my regrets that I am not with you to distract you a little, to show you how much I love you! The only thing that can console me is the thought that by staying here, I am useful to you.

“Maman, my darling, don't lose heart, I beg you. Distribute all my kisses to father and the children and keep for yourself all the best tenderness in your heart for me, your dear daughter. 

“Yours, Suzy.’”

Once again, Madame Douvry read Suzy's message to the end, and her thoughts fled so far to her child that she started when she heard the door of the drawing room open.

“M. Vilbert,” the maid announced, while stepping aside to allow him entry.

“Oh, André, it's a pleasant surprise to see you tonight,” Madame Douvry said, with her sad, sweet smile.

“I don’t mean to bother you, Madame. I shall only stay for a moment,” he said, hesitating in the doorway of the drawing room. “Is M. Douvry well?”

“Yes, thank you, he’s at a business meeting, and I am waiting for him to return.”

All alone, thought André, with a recollection of the merry evenings of the previous winter, when Suzy was there, laughing joyously so that she seemed to fill the whole room.

Before Suzy's departure, André had thought that it would be horribly painful for him to return to the little Oriental drawing room, where she would no longer be present, and see the surrounding that remained the same, although she had disappeared.

But he soon perceived how good it would be for him, on the contrary, to find himself in the environment she loved. Here, he felt a little closer to her, and he could hear about what went on with her. Sometimes Madame Douvry even read to him a few fragments of the young lady’s long missives, in which, on certain days, there was a word of recollection for him. Usually a poor, short word, but André knew how to be satisfied with very little.

“Have you had any news of Mademoiselle Suzanne, Madame?” he asked, taking the seat Madame Douvry motioned for him to take alongside her. 

He did not add that it was for the sole purpose of obtaining some news that he had come that evening to Madame Douvry's.

“I received a letter this morning from Cannes which comforted me. Fortunately, the exile of my poor Suzy has many pleasantries, and she was very happy to hear about us from M. de Flers. But it seems that I know very little how to conceal, for, despite the care I put into my letters, Suzy has guessed my growing concern.”

“Has M. Douvry no prospects yet?” André asked with keen interest.

“He has been offered several positions that are absolutely unacceptable and under ridiculous conditions,” replied Madame Douvry, dropping her work with a gesture of extreme weariness. “The only one that would be advantageous would take us to Saigon, and we cannot think of taking the children there. They wouldn't stand the climate.”

André cast a glance at the delicate face of Madame Douvry, thinking that she too would scarcely handle the exhausting heat of such a place as Saigon, but he dared not say anything.  

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.