[8] MadameValmondebentherportlyfigureoverDesireeandkissedher, .
[9] “Thisisnotthebaby!” sheexclaimed, .
[10] “Iknewyouwouldbeastonished,” laughedDesiree, “! Lookathislegs, mamma, andhishandsandfingernails, — ’tittrue, Zandrine?”
[11] Thewomanbowedherturbanedheadmajestically, “Maissi, Madame.”
[12] “Andthewayhecries,” wentonDesiree, “’scabin.”
[13] , thenlookedassearchinglyatZandrine, whosefacewasturnedtogazeacrossthefields.
[14] “Yes, thechildhasgrown, haschanged,” saidMadameValmonde, slowly, asshereplaceditbesideitsmother.“WhatdoesArmandsay?”
[15] Desiree’sfacebecamesuffusedwithaglowthatwashappinessitself.
[16] “Oh, Armandistheproudestfatherintheparish, Ibelieve, chieflybecauseitisaboy, tobearhisname; thoughhesaysnot, — ’,” sheadded, drawingMadameValmonde’sheaddowntoher, andspeakinginawhisper, “hehasn’tpunishedoneofthem — notoneofthem — , whopretendedtohaveburnthislegthathemightrestfromwork — heonlylaughed, , mamma, I’msohappy; itfrightensme.”
[17] , andlaterthebirthofhissonhadsoftenedArmandAubigny’, , , ’sdark, handsomefacehadnotoftenbeendisfiguredbyfrownssincethedayhefellinlovewithher.
[18] Whenthebabywasaboutthreemonthsold, ; anairofmysteryamongtheblacks; , anawfulchangeinherhusband’smanner, , itwaswithavertedeyes, ; andwhenthere, avoidedherpresenceandthatofherchild, .
