Madame Valentine Vattier

The Fisherman's Daughter Madame Valentine Vattier

This work commences: "A SHORT distance from Havre, and quite near the sea-shore, there stood, about fifteen years ago, a modest but most attractive little cottage. A well-kept garden surrounded it on three sides, inclosed by a light railing painted green, with a small wicket opening on the graveled walk which led through the garden to the front entrance. Bengal roses and clematis, honeysuckles and convolvulus, covered the cottage, and wound themselves fantastically in wreaths and festoons around the windows, leaving nothing uncovered, outside their undulating branches, save a glimpse here and there of the dazzling white walls. It was doubtless from these narrow facades of white that the cottage received the name we have inscribed at the beginning of this chapter, and by which it was generally known throughout the country. The inmates of White Cottage consisted of six persons: Anthony Lebrun, Margaret his wife, and their four children, Henrietta, Celestin, Emily, and Henry.