Peeking Under the Covers

Chapter 8 continued... André Vilbert, motionless near Suzy, had followed the whole scene playing out before him. His serious gaze enveloped the group formed by Georges and Suzy: he, with his aristocratic bearing, she, fine and elegant, appearing slender in her long traveling coat. They both came from the same world, and André felt horribly discouraged, seeing what a difference there was between him, so awkward, and this handsome young man whose proud face stood out from the thickness of his fur collar. A feverish bustle spread through the station, with the perpetual rolling of baggage carts and the movement of employees who circulated about, looking important under their braided caps. Passengers passed by, busy, calling out to each other, rushing into the train carriages where the temperature was warmer. The machine panted, ready to go. “All aboard, Messieurs! All aboard!” “My goodness,” Suzy whispered, suddenly thrown back into the feeling that the cruel moment to say good-bye had arr...

Chapter 8 continued... For the last time, Suzy wandered through the apartment wanting to carry with her a final image of her home, looking at all the objects, even the smallest and most insignificant, whose appearance was so familiar to her. She stopped in her little room, where she had so often fallen asleep careless and happy, and in her mother’s room, as well. With her hands clasped as in a church steeple, she glanced inside. She searched on the mantelpiece for the miniatures of departed relatives whom she had so often admired as a little girl – the iridescent crystal vase always full of flowers and, in the shade of the bed, the Byzantine Virgin, with her expression of mysterious gravity, then – “Suzy, the carriage is downstairs. It's time to leave!” one of the boys shouted. She shivered. “Already…My goodness, already!” It seemed to her that something was breaking inside her, causing her sharp pain. She did not dare try to speak, for she knew well that she would burst into tears...

 Chapter 8 continued... “Are you leaving at seven o'clock, by  le train de luxe ?” Germaine asked. “I don't know,” Suzy replied indifferently. What did it matter to her what kind of train it was? She only knew one thing, and that was that it was going to take her away alone. Unshed tears filled her eyes. One would have said that the trite friendship of Mme. Arnay had awakened in Suzy a sorrowful chord, leaving her numb. Still, she led her aunt back to the doorstep of the apartment, a faint smile still wandering across her mouth. She received, with her usual good grace, the quick kiss of Madame Arnay and the warmer embrace of Germaine, who overwhelmed her with important information.             “So then, Suzy, you will write to me and tell me whether Lady Graham's receptions are lovely. Send me flowers, too, especially mimosa and tuberose, I love them. Have fun! Oh! If Gladys comes to Cannes, tell her that she is my de...

  Chapter 8 “Suzy, do you still have anything to put in your trunk?” the two twins asked at the same time, showing their tiny faces in the crack of the door. “Can you even close it?” “Yes, it’s quite ready. Here are the keys.” The little ones disappeared, and Suzy feverishly continued to fill her   traveling bag. She was brave and held back her tears. But it was at the cost of an incessant activity, putting her in a daze and depriving her of the time to think about the fact that in a few hours she would be on her way to Cannes. She started at the bell ringing in the foyer. She knew that André Vilbert had come. Since their conversation, she had not seen him, and she was very apprehensive of their first meeting since then.  Was   it   he   then?  She listened, a slight tremor shaking her nerves. In a second the door of the room opened again, and one of the twins, Alice, reappeared, sent along as the messenger. “Suzy, Aunt Arnay and Germaine have come to ...

At the end of Chapter 7, maybe you were a little like me and felt a bit sad for poor André. When he says, " Mademoiselle Suzy, don't you think you could find a little affection for me?" I kind of wanted to cry for him. Sad, severe André...Did he set his sights on the wrong girl? After all, she seems to have her heart set on Georges de Flers. So, it would seem, we have a love triangle going on here. Perhaps if André weren't so austere and cold...Let's see where things go in Chapter 8. Chapter 8: Cast of Characters Suzanne (Suzy)   -- eldest daughter of M. and Mme. Douvry Alice -- younger sister to Suzy and one of the twins Mme. Arnay (Charlotte)  -- Suzy's aunt and M. Arnay's wife Germaine Arnay  -- Mme. Arnay's daughter and Suzy's cousin André Vilbert  -- friend of the family Lady Graham  -- American friend of Mme. Arnay Georges de Flers -- acquaintance of Suzy's but she might want more Madame (Mme.) Douvry   -- Suzy's mother Monsieur (M....