Peeking Under the Covers

Chapter 10 continued... Suzy waited some time for André to arrive. It was such a joy for her to think that she was going to hear about her dear home! The idea had brightened the closing of her day the day before, and it filled her young heart with a joyful thrill as if André's presence had brought her something of the perfume and charm of her home. But the morning was passing and the young man had not yet appeared. She was beginning to despair of seeing him, until André’s card was finally brought to her. She uttered such an expressive “At last! Finally!” that it was a great pity that André could not hear it, for it would have given him such happiness to hear her speak it. But the first words she addressed to him were well worth his coming. “Oh, Monsieur Vilbert! How glad I am to see you!” she said, with a sincere impulse that swelled André's heart. Life appeared to him, in that moment, as luminous as the ray of sunshine that played on the golden heads of the mimosas situated al...

Chapter 9 continued... “Because, my child, accompanying me will divert you from your path, since I am going to the Ursulines ,” she said hesitatingly. “Never mind, Maman. Running errands in Amiens does not take very long. And then, I’ll come see you. I want to take advantage of being with you as much as possible.” As he spoke, he bent over a little, and his lips brushed the white hairs on Madame Vilbert’s forehead. She no longer protested her son's proposal. He accompanied her, in fact, to the Ursulines, but then he took a path through the boulevards where the wind rushed in, biting and harsh, reddening the faces of the few walkers who diligently took their Sunday walks. He soon arrived in front of Aunt Sylvie's house, situated in a neighborhood at the very end of Rue Laurendeau. It was the old lady herself who opened the door. “Ah,André! My dear, I am very glad to see you! Come in quickly, you must be freezing. Come over here. Before going to the Salute , my dear, old Flora ma...