Autumn Glory; Or, The Toilers of the Field

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Rene Bazin. Autumn Glory; Or, The Toilers of the Field

CHAPTER I. LA FROMENTIÈRE

CHAPTER II. THE FAMILY LUMINEAU

CHAPTER III. THE DWARF ORCHARD

CHAPTER IV. THE MICHELONNES

CHAPTER V. PLOUGHING IN SEPTEMBER

CHAPTER VI. THE APPEAL TO THE MASTER

CHAPTER VII. DRIOT'S RETURN

CHAPTER VIII. IN THE PLACE DE L'EGLISE

CHAPTER IX. THE CONSCRIPTS OF SALLERTAINE

CHAPTER X. THE UPROOTED VINEYARD

CHAPTER XI. THE DANCE AT LA SEULIÈRE

CHAPTER XII. ROUSILLE'S LOVE DREAM

CHAPTER XIII. THE AUCTION

CHAPTER XIV. DWELLERS IN TOWNS

CHAPTER XV. THE EMIGRANT

CHAPTER XVI. HER FATHER'S BIDDING

CHAPTER XVII. A FEBRUARY NIGHT

CHAPTER XVIII. SPRINGTIDE

Отрывок из книги

The family was assembled in the large living-room, or "house-place" of the farm. As the girl entered all eyes were turned upon her, but not a word was spoken. Feeling isolated, she crept along beside the wall, trying by lessening the noise of her sabots the sooner to escape observation, and having reached the chimney-corner, stooped down and held out her hands to the fire, as if she were cold.

Her sister Eléonore, a tall young woman with horse-like profile, lifeless blue eyes, and heavy apathetic face, drew back either to make way for her or to mark the ill-feeling existing between them, and continued to eat her slice of bread and few scraps of meat standing, the time-honoured custom among the women of La Vendée. The chimney-corner, blackened with smoke, hid them from the rest of the family as they stood one on either side; the dancing flames between them lit up, from time to time, the inmates and contents of the big house-place, built at a period when wood was plentiful, and houses and furniture were intended to last; while overhead numberless rafters discoloured with smoke and dust, joined the huge centre beam. The fitful flames anon rested on the woodwork of two four-post beds that stood against the wall, each with a walnut wood chest beside it, by aid of which the occupants mounted to the heavy structures, two wardrobes, some photographs, and a rosary hung round a copper crucifix over the nearest bed.

.....

"What else could they do? They are ruined."

"Oh, ruined! Not so bad as that."

.....