A Respectable Woman

Mrs. Baroda was informed a friend of her husband was going to come in a few days to stay one or two week on the plantation.

She was a little disappointed, for she wanted to stay alone with Gaston, her husband. Gaston spent long time describing Gouvernail, his friend, to his wife. She pictured him tall, slim and cynical, but he wasn’t, on the contrary after he had come, she rather liked him.

By the time she noticed he was reserved and he had very good manners.

Gouvernail didn’t care about Gaston and whatever he wanted to do with him, he seemed only to pay attention to Mrs. Baroda.

She was puzzled by him, developing a kind of attraction. But one day she remained piqued by that, and she soon got bored with him. So he told to her husband she didn’t stand him, but he replied he was going to stay just for a week and she should have been hospital and friendly with him.

That night she was sitting on the beach when Gouvernail approached her. He was there to give a scarf at the request of Gaston. Then he started talking about night, college’s days and ambitions.

Suddenly she started not to pay attention to his words, but she remained hypnotized by them. She wanted to go near him and touch him. At the right moment she rose and left him alone, for she was a respectable woman, and even a sensible one, for she stood not telling her husband what happened that night.

The following day Mrs. Baroda took a train to the city and she didn’t return UNTIL  Gouvernail was gone.

Afterwards she told her husband she overcame her dislike for Gouvernail, and suggested having him back for the summer. Gaston said he was pleased to hear that, and she replied she had overcome everything and the following time she would be very nice to him.