THE AWAKENING
BY
Author of "The Fear of Living"
TRANSLATED BY
RUTH HELEN DAVIS
NEW YORK
E-P-DUTTON & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1914
BY
P. DUTTON & COMPANY
TO
MY DEAR AUNT VIRGINIA
WITH THE AFFECTIONATE REGARD
OF
RUTH HELEN DAVIS
CONTENTS
PART I
CHAPTER
I The First Act of Procedure
II The First Judges
III The Plaintiff
IV The Defendant
PART II
I The Other Side of the World
II The Watch
III Albert's Diary
IV Anne de Sézery
V Elizabeth's Awakening
PART III
I The First Stage
II Elizabeth's Day
III Madame Molay-Norrois
IV The New Life
V A Ghost
VI Madame Derize
PART IV
I The Palms
II Philippe Lagier's Mysterious Journey
III Elizabeth in Paris
IV The Return
V The Phantom
VI The Chartreuse of Prémol
VII The Opened Eyes
THE AWAKENING
PART I
I
THE FIRST ACT OF PROCEDURE
A suit for divorce or separation is begun, as everyone knows, by apetition to the presiding judge: the party seeking freedom or releasefrom the conjugal tie briefly states his grievances, and requests themagistrate, according to law, to attempt a reconciliation, a uselessproceeding in most cases, before the final break. In the provinces, thefirst step in the proceedings is generally heartily welcomed in thesolicitors' offices. The clerks hastily leave their desks to get a lookat the rough draft—which they will soon have to copy—with allthe eagerness of youth to enjoy a scandal, the participants in which areknown to them. It is a regular treat for them; but their unkindness isquite devoid of malice.
Thus, the Derize case at Grenoble brought into close conference in M.Tabourin's office, during the chief's absence, the four clerks—thelearned Vitrolle, Dauras, Lestaque and the errand-boy Malaunay. Theybeg