Peeking Under the Covers

Chapter 10 continued... Suzy found the presence of M. de Flers at Cannes pleasant. Surrounded by strangers, and feeling a little isolated despite Lady Graham's cordial welcome, she had felt real joy at George's arrival. He was a connection with those whom she had left behind in Paris. He knew them, and   she could talk to him about them. They had also both lived the same life at Le Castel, and she felt a deep pleasure in knowing – since she was far from her family – someone to whom she could say, “Do you remember?” and therefore reliving a moment of the past. She also noticed – young women have excellent eyes, after all – that Georges did not dread her company. On the contrary! And indeed, her vivacity, her freshness of impressions pleased the dilettantism of M. de Flers; they interested and charmed him, surprising him, he, who at times, was so jaded. And so, very willingly, he remained with her, finding, in hearing her talk, the same pleasure he had in placing on a canvas, the...

Chapter 9 continued... “André, I hadn't noticed it until just now,” Madame Douvry said, suddenly changing her tone into something more cheerful. “Is it possible…Are you in evening wear? Are you going out then?” He smiled with such a singular smile that it lit up his austere face. “You are not mistaken, Madame. I sacrifice tonight to Satan and his showy display,” he said in a tone of comic confusion. “I received an urgent invitation from my illustrious professor of Fine Arts, Hugues Mersen, and somehow I’ve allowed myself to go along with what he wants.” Madame Douvry looked at him quite amused, her mind seemingly relaxed for a moment. “André, I wouldn’t have believed it unless you told me yourself! And what kind of event are you going to engage in with Hugues Mersen?” “It seems that we will be dancing tonight,” he replied in a tone of resignation. “And you’re going to dance? You, André? Do you know how to?” “I knew in the old days,” he confessed, laughing in spite of himself. In th...

 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 7 continued... Many reproached him as being disdainful and cold, because he did not freely give himself away, having a horror for trite niceties. Very few guessed what tenderness of heart was concealed by his coarse cover. Strangely modest, he took no account of his real value, because he constantly had before his eyes the “best” to be attained. An irrational shyness came with this, which made him prefer to everything else, his solitude where art awaited him, reserving for him the pleasures he gave to those faithful to him. And for a long time, André had wanted nothing else. Then, one day, looking about him by chance, he had seen the beautiful radiance of an eighteen-year-old face, whose brown eyes gazed at him beaming with cheerfulness, with lips parted into a smile alive with the joy of life. And suddenly, entirely, in an irresistible impulse, his austere worker’s heart had gone to this young lady, who appeared to him as the incarnation of the dreams he sometimes had, in the ...

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...

  Chapter 5 continued... Distracted and quite by chance, she raised her eyes to him, and suddenly an exclamation rose to her lips as she recognized Georges de Flers. She quickly stopped an indiscreet smile that would have spoken what she felt inside. An impulsive blush brightened her cheeks. His expression was one of pleasure mingled with surprise. Because she was alone, he seemed to ask himself if he was not mistaken in thinking he recognized her, but his hesitation lasted only a second. The luminous brown eyes that met his were indeed those of Suzy, whose brilliance he had so often admired at Le Castel. He gave a deep bow as he passed. She, always serious and dominated by the sense of her youthful dignity, replied with a little nod of the head and a somewhat proud grace. She had felt Georges's astonishment at not seeing her accompanied, and a painful feeling darkened for her the naïve pleasure she felt at this meeting. Above all, she was flattered by the enthusiasm he had shown i...

 Chapter 4 continued... “‘Dear friend,’” wrote the old lady to Madame Douvry. “‘A young woman whose family I know very well, Madame de Vricourt, is at this moment looking for a music teacher for her two little daughters. I immediately thought of your Suzy. Madame de Vricourt is, for a few days, in the country, but at the beginning of next week, have Suzy go to her house on my behalf. I would be very happy if this interview could result in a favorable arrangement for your dear daughter. All my wishes, my dearest friend, for the success of this endeavor. I desire, as much as you do, to see this succeed.’” Suzy gave a shriek of joy when she read these few lines. All her obsessive fears vanished, and hope, very lively in her, was reawakened, so fervent and so infectious, that poor Madame Douvry even came under its influence. Her anxiety was somewhat lightened. On the very day that the blessed note arrived, Madame Arnay, who was passing through Paris, came while in between errands to se...

 Chapter 3 continued... M. Douvry seemed to hesitate for a second, then he went to his wife's room. She was writing and raised her head with a smile upon recognizing his step. “You’re early, Robert,” she said, greeting him with the same reception as Suzy. “Indeed, I am. I left my office earlier than usual.” He spoke in an indifferent, absentminded voice as he sat down heavily in an armchair lost in the half-shadow of the room. Madame Douvry could not distinguish the expression on his face, but his tone struck her. She waited, a little uneasy. In front of her, the letter remained unfinished, the whiteness of the paper illuminating the dark leather of the blotter. “Robert, why don't you talk to me?” she asked, struggling against the indefinable distress rising in her heart. “What is it?” “I have... I have a new...It is unpleasant to tell you, Jeanne,” he said with effort. “’Unpleasant’ only?” She tried to keep her tone calm, but her lips trembled a little. He rose and leaned clos...

  Chapter 2 continued... Suzy thought that she wouldn’t have been very upset by this setback. As the end of her stay at Le Castel approached, her regrets became more vivid. At that thought, her cheerfulness disappeared. She grew quiet and serious as she pointed out to Georges the flowers she desired he cut for her.  “Do you want another one of these roses? See how velvety this one is.” “Oh…yes, I do want another.” Why is this Gladys Tuffton coming?  Her distracted mind kept thinking.  I could have stayed another three days, since my mother has allowed it. “How serious you seem, Mademoiselle Suzanne,” Georges said in his soothing voice.   “I’m always like this when I part someplace.”  She replied quickly, confused, as if he could guess what she was thinking. “I hate leaving. I find the word ‘farewell’ too difficult to say.” “Me too, sometimes, but it’s been a long time since I’ve understood it as well as I do now.” A fleeting blush accentuated the rosy ...

  Chapter 1 continued: Germaine showed not a bit of bitterness over her defeat in the match. Not that she enjoyed the indifferent nature of her sister Madame de Berly, but she was incapable of being passionate like Suzy. Worldly amusements alone had the gift of entertaining   Germaine, as such amusements seemed to supply the happiness she needed for her frivolous nature. “Well, Suzy and Germaine, have you finally decided to be done?” Mme. de Berly called out, her tone chilly. “I'm literally frozen!” “We’re coming straightaway, Marthe,” cried Germaine, who was occupied by putting back in order the slightly wrinkled folds of her tennis skirt.  Suzy went to find her hat hanging from a branch of the lime trees. She paid little attention as she put it on, but there were fortunate coincidences when it came to her appearance. Suzy, even with her hair tousled in disarray, appeared simply delightful with her thin brown head buried in an immense hat worthy of a Kate Greenaway vign...