Charlotte Brontë
VILLETTE
Published by
Books
- Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting -
2018 OK Publishing
ISBN 978-80-272-4565-9
Table of Contents
Chapter V. Turning a New Leaf.
Chapter XI. The Portress’s Cabinet.
Chapter XIII. A Sneeze Out of Season.
Chapter XV. The Long Vacation.
Chapter XXIV. M. De Bassompierre.
Chapter XXV. The Little Countess.
Chapter XXVII. The Hôtel Crécy.
Chapter XXVIII. The Watchguard.
Chapter XXIX. Monsieur’s Fête.
Chapter XXXII. The First Letter.
Chapter XXXIII. M. Paul Keeps His Promise.
Chapter XXXVI. The Apple of Discord.
Chapter XXXIX. Old and New Acquaintance.
Chapter XLI. Faubourg Clotilde.
Chapter I.
Bretton.
My godmother lived in a handsome house in the clean and ancient town of Bretton. Her husband’s family had been residents there for generations, and bore, indeed, the name of their birthplace — Bretton of Bretton: whether by coincidence, or because some remote ancestor had been a personage of sufficient importance to leave his name to his neighbourhood, I know not.
When I was a girl I went to Bretton about twice a year, and well I liked the visit. The house and its inmates specially suited me. The large peaceful rooms, the well-arranged furniture, the clear wide windows, the balcony outside, looking down on a fine antique street, where Sundays and holidays seemed always to abide — so quiet was its atmosphere, so clean its pavement — these things pleased me well.
One child in a household of grown people is usually made very much of, and in a quiet way I was a good deal taken notice of by Mrs. Bretton, who had been left a widow, with one son, before I knew her; her husband, a physician, having died while she was yet a young and handsome woman.
She was not young, as I remember her, but she was still handsome, tall, well-made, and though dark for an Englishwoman, yet wearing always the clearness