And now she was really very ill, haunted too by an unreasoning,
irremovable fear that it would all end in her death. Mathieu, who had
seen her but a few months previously looking so fair and fresh, was
amazed to find her such a wreck. And on her side Valentine gazed, all
astonishment, at Marianne, noticing with surprise how calm and strong the
young woman seemed, and how limpid her clear and smiling eyes remained.
On the day of the Froments' visit Seguin had gone out early in the
morning, and when they arrived he had not yet returned. Thus the lunch
was for a short time kept waiting, and during the interval Celeste, the
maid, entered the room where the visitors sat near her mistress, who was
stretched upon a sofa, looking a perfect picture of distress. Valentine
turned a questioning glance on the servant, who forthwith replied:
"No, madame, Monsieur has not come back yet. But that woman of my village
is here. You know, madame, the woman I spoke to you about, Sophie
Couteau, La Couteau as we call her at Rougemont, who brings nurses to
Paris?"
"Well, what of it?" exclaimed Valentine, on the point of ordering Celeste
to leave the room, for it seemed to her quite outrageous to be disturbed
in this manner.
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