The things we do!

Inside the house there was an
occasional clatter of plates and dishes, or the resonant nasal
cry of "Auguste," or "Henri," from one or other of the
servants, but that was all. Madelon found it too tiresome; the
_porte-cochere_ stood half open, she crossed the courtyard and
peeped out. She saw a quiet, sunny street, with not much more
life or movement than there was within, but still a little
better. Over the high walls surrounding the houses opposite
green trees were waving; at one end of the street there was
the gleam of a river, a bridge, and a row of poplars; the
other end she could not see, for the street made a bend, and a
fountain with dribbling water filled up the angle. Presently a
little boy in a blue blouse, and a little girl with a tight
round white cap, came up to the stone basin, each with a
pitcher to fill; they were a long time about it, for what
would be pleasanter, on this hot summer morning, than to stand
dabbling one's fingers in the cool water? Madelon watched them
till she became possessed with an irresistible desire to do
the same.


Pages:
74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98