L'Assommoir, Émile Zola [book series to read .TXT] 📗

ing her,he seized hold of her by the arms, shook her violently and sent hersprawling upon the bed of the children, who recommenced crying. And helay down again, mumbling, like a man resolving on something that hepreviously hesitated to do:

"You don't know what you've done, Gervaise. You've made a big mistake;you'll see."

For an instant the children continued sobbing. Their mother, whoremained bending over the bed, held them both in her embrace, and keptrepeating the same words in a monotonous tone of voice.

"Ah! if it weren't for you! My poor little ones! If it weren't foryou! If it weren't for you!"

Stretched out quietly, his eyes raised to the faded strip of chintz,Lantier no longer listened, but seemed to be buried in a fixed idea.He remained thus for nearly an hour, without giving way to sleep, inspite of the fatigue which weighed his eyelids down.

He finally turned toward Gervaise, his face set hard in determination.She had gotten the children up and dressed and had almost fini