Madame Chrysantheme by Pierre Loti
page 109 of 199 (54%)
page 109 of 199 (54%)
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elbow and listens, with astonishment depicted on her face.
Ah! happy thought! she has discovered what is tormenting him: "Ka!" (mosquitoes) she says. And, to impress the more forcibly her meaning on my mind, she pinches my arm so hard with her little pointed nails, at the same time imitating, with such an amusing play of her features, the grimace of a person who is stung, that I exclaim-- "Oh! stop, Chrysanthème, this pantomime is too expressive, and indeed useless! I know the word _Ka_, and had quite understood, I assure you." It is done so drolly and so quickly, with such a pretty pout, that in truth I cannot think of being angry, although I shall certainly have to-morrow a blue mark on my arm; about that there is no doubt. "Come, we must get up and go to Yves' rescue; he cannot be allowed to go on thumping in that manner. Let us take a lantern, and see what has happened." It was indeed the mosquitoes. They are hovering in a thick cloud about him; those of the house and those of the garden all seem collected together, swarming and buzzing. Chrysanthème indignantly burns several at the flame of her lantern, and shows me others: "Hou!" covering the white paper walls. He, tired out with his day's amusement, sleeps on; but his slumbers |
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