Guy de Maupassant complete short stories volume 2 - Penn State ...

ing she had tried to hit him, and he sprang upon her holding
her down; and boxing her ears with all his might, he cried:
“Take that, and that, there, there, wretch!”
When he was out of breath and exhausted, he rose and went
toward the dressing table to prepare a glass of eau sucree with
orange flower, for he felt as if he should faint.
She was weeping in bed, sobbing bitterly, for she felt as if her
happiness was over, through her own fault.
Then, amidst her tears, she stammered out:
“Listen, Antoine, come here, I told you a lie, you will understand,
listen.”
And prepared to defend herself now, armed with excuses and
artifice, she raised her disheveled head with its nightcap all
awry.
Turning toward her, he approached, ashamed of having struck
her, but feeling in the bottom of his heart as a husband, a relentless
hatred toward this woman who had deceived the former
husband, Souris.
Guy de Maupassant
53
MY MY UNCLE UNCLE JULES JULES
JULES
A white-haired old man begged us for alms. My companion,
Joseph Davranche, gave him five francs. Noticing my surprised
look, he said:
“That poor unfortunate reminds me of a story which I shall
tell you, the memory of which continually pursues me. Here it
is:
“My family, which came originally from Havre, was not rich.
We just managed to make both ends meet. My father worked
hard, came home late from the office, and earned very little. I
had two sisters.
“My mother suffered a good deal from our reduced circumstances,
and she often had harsh words for her husband, veiled
and sly reproaches. The poor man then made a gesture which
used to distress me. He would pass his open hand over his forehead,
as if to wipe away perspiration which did not exist, and
he would answer nothing. I felt his helpless suffering. We economized
on everything, and never would accept an invitation to
dinner, so as not to have to return the courtesy. All our provisions
were bought at bargain sales. My sisters made their own