They always hung around the kitchen, or approached Felicite when
she and the children were out walking. The husband, however, did
not show himself.
Felicite developed a great fondness for them; she bought them a
stove, some shirts and a blanket; it was evident that they
exploited her. Her foolishness annoyed Madame Aubain, who,
moreover did not like the nephew's familiarity, for he called her
son "thou";--and, as Virginia began to cough and the season was
over, she decided to return to Pont-l'Eveque.
Monsieur Bourais assisted her in the choice of a college. The one
at Caen was considered the best. So Paul was sent away and bravely
said good-bye to them all, for he was glad to go to live in a
house where he would have boy companions.
Madame Aubain resigned herself to the separation from her son
because it was unavoidable. Virginia brooded less and less over
it. Felicite regretted the noise he made, but soon a new
occupation diverted her mind; beginning from Christmas, she
accompanied the little girl to her catechism lesson every day.
CHAPTER III
DEATH
After she had made a curtsey at the threshold, she would walk up
the aisle between the double lines of chairs, open Madame Aubain's
pew, sit down and look around.
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