Theresa Raquin

in Paris. Madame Raquin protested: she had arranged her mode of life, and would not modify it in any way.

all the drugs you gave me. It is only natural, now, when I have a desire of my

married couple. Little by little, she recovered calm. She reflected that the young people might have children, and that her small fortune would not then suffice. It was necessary to

n she was

mercery business for sale, and Therese and myself will resume selling needles and cotton, which will give us somethi

ployment," answe

o find a post in some important administration. He blushed with delight when he fancied he saw

longer took the trouble to ask her opinion. She went where they went, she did what they did, without a c

hop front, recalled her former place of business which was so peaceful. She could fancy herself again in the provinces, and she drew a long breath thinking that her dear children would be happy in this out-of-the-way corner. The low price asked for the business, caused her to make up her mind. The owner sold it her for 2,000 francs, and the rent of the shop and first floor was only 1,200 francs a year. Madame Raquin, who had clos

ttle by little, at the end of a few days, in her conversations of an evening, the damp, obscure shop in the arcade became a palace; she pic

t nook! There are three beautiful rooms upstairs. The arcade is full of peo

ehand, as to buying and selling, and posted her up in all the tricks of small tradespeople. At length, the family q

dirty, damp gallery, visited the shop, and ascending to the first floor, walked round each room. These bare apartments, without furniture, looked frightful in their solitude and dilapidation. The young woman

acquisition. She found a remedy for every fresh inconvenience that was discovered, explaining the obscurity by s

l only come up here at night. I shall not be home before five or six o

elied on the comfort of his office. He said to himself that he would be warm

place. Madame Raquin was astonished at this depressed attitude. She had thought that the young woman would try to adorn her habitation. That she would place

are very well as we are. Ther

ast lost patience at seeing the good old lady incessantly turning round and round be

all day; and he found life so dreadfully dull with nothing to do, that he spoke of returning to Vernon. But he at length obt

he performed twice daily, never wearied him. He watched the water running along, and he stopped to see the rafts of wood descending the river, pass by. He thought of nothing. Frequently he planted himself before Notre Dame, to contemplate the scaffolding

e remained half an hour, leaning over the rails at the top of the pit, observing the animals clumsily swaying to and fro. The behaviour of these huge beasts pleased him. He examined them with gaping mouth and ro

the number, "The History of the Consulate and Empire" by Thiers, and "The History of the Girondins" by Lamartine, as well as some popular scientific works. He fancied he was labouring at his education. At times, he forced his wife to listen to certai

xed, and her thoughts wandering and lost. But she maintained an even, easy temper, exercising all

minutes a young girl came in to purchase a few sous worth of goods. Therese served the people with words that were ever the same, with a smile that appeared mechani

is mother and wife hardly ever left the shop. Therese, residing in damp obscurity, in gloomy, crushing silence, saw l