Sidonie Author:Alphonse Daudet Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. STOET CF " LIT Saviguot. " Savignt. "dear Sidonie: Yesterday we were at table, in the large dining-room you once knew so well. I was out ... more »of spirits! Grandpa had been out of temper all the morning, and mamma hardly dared to speak. I was thinking that it was a great pity to be alone there, in such a lovely spot. " George comes only occasionally, and then very late—merely to dinner-—and returns the next mom- ing with my father before I am up; besides, my cousin has become a man of business in these days. " Suddenly grandpa turned to me—' What has become of that little Sidonie ?' he asked, abruptly; 'I should like to see her here again.' You may imagine my delight! How much I have to tell you—how much to show you! You will cheer us up, my dear, and I assure you we all need something of the kind. " Savigny is only a lovely desert. In the morning I make my toilet with the greatest care—and for what ? That the swans may admire me, or the cows, feeding in the distant meadows. Then I rush to my room, throw off all my finery, put on a linen dress, and feed the chickens and ducks. Happily the hunting-season is near at hand, and I look forward to that as some amusement. George and myfather will both be here more, and you too—for you are going to answer at once, and tell me what day to expect you. M. Risler said you were not at aD. well, and the air here will do you a world of good. " Every one expects you, and I am dying with impatience. " Claire ." Her letter was finished, and Claire Fromont put on her wide-brimmed hat, for the August sun was very hot, and went herself to place it in the little box on the park-gate, from which the postman would take it the following morning. No kindly breeze whispered in the girl's ear a warning to prevent her sendin...« less