Page:Villette (1st edition).djvu/809

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MALEVOLA.
129

CHAPTER XXXVI.


MALEVOLA.


Madame Beck called me on Thursday afternoon, and asked whether I had any occupation to hinder me from going into town and executing some little commissions for her at the shops.

Being disengaged, and placing myself at her service, I was presently furnished with a list of the wools, silks, embroidering thread, etcetera, wanted in the pupils' work, and having equipped myself in a manner suiting the threatening aspect of a cloudy and sultry day, I was just drawing the spring-bolt of the street-door, in act to issue forth, when Madame's voice again summoned me to the salle à manger.

"Pardon, Meess Lucie!" cried she, in the seeming haste of an impromptu thought, "I have just recol-