[La Traviata] The Road to Celebrities in Paris

When Margaret returned to her bedroom, she had a dream. In the dream, there were large epiphyllums, green branches and leaves, and snow-colored slender petals, blooming layer upon layer.

When she woke up, she looked a little dazed.

Before dawn, Margaret was sitting on a soft chair wearing a shawl, and the sketch in her hand was gradually taking shape.

That's not clothes, but flowers, the beauty under the moon last night.

Margaret colored the design draft, the most flawless white and bright yellow stamens, and each petal of the flower is like a masterpiece carefully crafted by God.

Julie came over in the morning to wake up his wife, but saw Margaret had woken up early and was drawing a manuscript at the table.

Julie didn't bother Margaret, but turned around and went to the kitchen to bring hot tea and breakfast.She rested lightly on the corner of the table, and Margaret was a little too focused to notice it.

The sun gradually rose, and when it was ten o'clock, a visitor came to Marguerite's cabin, and it was Armand whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

When Julie came to inform, Margaret put aside what she was doing and went downstairs, where the blond young man was waiting for her in the hall.

"We haven't seen each other for a while," said Margaret, and walked over.

Armand showed a still cramped smile, with a gentle smile in his eyes.

"You still look so good."

Marguerite sat down with Armand, and Julie brought tea.

Marguerite took the teapot and made the young man a cup of tea.

The dense tea fragrance wafted in the air, and Margaret looked at the young man in front of her in the tea fragrance, and she smiled slightly: "I heard that you have returned to your hometown."

"Yes, in order to deal with my sister's marriage."

Marguerite's eyes lit up: "Excuse me, Monsieur Armand, when will your sister get married?"

"the day after tomorrow."

Margaret looked at the young man's unsurprising answer, she blinked and asked, "So, do you know?"

Armand looked a little embarrassed, he smiled: "I think, maybe I can help you a little bit."

"That's not a little bit!" said Margaret, raising her voice excitedly, "You've been a great help to me!" She paused and asked, "I thought, I mean, why would you know? "

"Actually, Gaston told me."

"he?"

Armand nodded, and then said apologetically: "I hope you don't mind, in my communication with Gaston, I occasionally get information about you, it's not that I still have any thoughts, then It's just a kind of concern, between friends." The young man paused after speaking, "If you think we can be friends."

"Of course I don't doubt this. In fact, it couldn't be better." Margaret said, her tone softened. "What's more, you have never been rude to me. I am grateful for your friendship." do."

"That's good." The young man whispered, then raised his eyes to Margaret, his eyes were like water in June.

"I've heard everything you've been up to during this time, and I've always wondered if my concern would put pressure on you, but I think that's kind of silly."

"No, you were never stupid, don't demean yourself," said Margaret.

Armand smiled: "Well, I think they are not more important now."

Marguerite decided to go with Armand to his hometown to attend his sister's wedding.So she quickly told Julie about this decision.

"We have to go too, but what can we do at home?" Julie worried.

Margaret said: "There is Uncle Ramadon at home."

Uncle Ramadon didn't live with them, he had his own family, and he didn't follow Marguerite like Julie and Nanin.

"Let me pack something." Julie frowned, thinking quickly about what she was going to bring.

"Just bring the money for a change of clothes." Margaret knew Julie's character, and if she didn't interrupt her directly, she could think about how to bring half of the house's things there.

Marguerite asked Nanin and Eric to pack their things as well, and she even brought her usual pen and paper. Two hours later, they set off from the train station in Paris.

It takes more than ten hours for the train to arrive at Armand's hometown. It is a small place. Armand's father is a small official with a low position, but he is clean and honest, and seems to be well received by the locals.

They are in a box.

Margaret didn't take the train very often, because she used to be very busy and the train didn't suit her. Now, although she desperately wanted to arrive early, the only choice was the train.

The conditions on the train were not very good, but they were not too bad. It was a bit stuffy in the summer, and I was sweating profusely when I leaned against the window.

Naning's little face turned pale unbearably. Margaret let her pillow on her lap and fanned her.

"I'll come, ma'am," said Julie, but Margaret refused.

Julie was old, and she was not used to trains, at best she was only a little better than Nanin, and Margaret regretted bringing them here.

"Don't try to leave us, ma'am," said Julie, as if reading her mind.

"On this train? No, I can't leave you off." Margaret joked, and Julie laughed, which seemed better.

"Ma'am, I went to get some water." Eric came in from the outside, he seemed to be adapting well, maybe the boy's system is stronger.

"Thank you, Eric." Marguerite fed some water to Nanin, and Armand also came in, holding some fresh orange peels in his hand.

"Use this." Armand said, then folded the fresh orange peel in half, brought it to Naning's nose, pressed it, some of the fresh oil of the orange was inhaled into the nasal cavity, and repeated this about a dozen times, Naning opened eyes.

"Feel better?" Margaret asked, and the little girl nodded.

Margaret let her continue to sleep on the pillow, and after a while, Eric took the fan from her.

"I'll do it," he said, and fanned himself, and the clear wind made Marguerite feel much better.She was very glad that she had discarded those girdles early on, otherwise she might faint right now.

In the evening, the weather was not so muggy, the train stopped temporarily, and they ate at a small shop nearby.

Almost one-third of the passengers came down, and most of the rest brought their own food.

Margaret herself didn't have much appetite, and Armand and the others didn't seem to have much appetite, so they ordered a small amount of food.

Naning couldn't eat anything, so Margaret asked the store owner to prepare milk for her, and finally brought some fruit in case she was hungry in the middle of the night.

As they were about to leave, a slightly drunk man bumped into Margaret.

The man didn't know whether he didn't realize that he had bumped into someone, or he just chose to ignore it, and walked outside with staggering steps.

"You hit someone!" Eric stopped the drunk.

The man pushed Eric away, as if he didn't bother talking to a brat.

Eric glared at him, and Armand handed Nanin to Julie temporarily, and stepped forward to stop that person himself.

"Sir, you should apologize for bumping into someone."

The drunk raised his arm, pushed Armand away again and walked forward. Armand clenched his fists and tried to chase after him, but Marguerite stopped him.

"Forget it, the train is leaving."

Armand pursed his lips, and then helped Nanin to walk towards the train.

The night was not pleasant, and Marguerite could not bear the noise, but could not say anything, for Nanin and Julie were asleep.

A little disturbed, Margaret got out of the box and leaned against it in the aisle.

She leaned her head against the glass window for an unknown amount of time when someone patted her shoulder lightly.

Marguerite turned her head, it was Armand.

A blond man came over and sat across from her.

"Can't you sleep?"

Margaret smiled embarrassedly as an answer.

"It's nothing, trains are always uncomfortable."

Margaret nodded, and then asked, "Is Eric asleep?"

"Like a little pig, the child is very adaptable." Armand said with a smile, and Marguerite was only amused when she heard the young man describe the boy in this way.

"Indeed, he always adapts quickly to new places."

"I probably heard something about him. Do you want him to learn how to make clothes with you?" the man asked.

Margaret shook her head: "He has better talent."

"It may be presumptuous of me to ask this," the young man said, "but if you don't intend to treat him as your apprentice, I'm afraid it will not be a good thing for you." Armand pointed out that Eric was a boy, Not an apprentice or a servant, the embarrassment of staying with Margaret, and the inconvenience it would cause her.

"That's nothing," said Margaret.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interfere with anything."

Margaret looked at the other party and smiled, "You don't have to feel sorry, I didn't say that because your words offended me, nor did I accuse you of interfering with me, I just wanted to tell you, Bringing Eric by my side, no matter what public opinion there will be, is not a big deal to me." She paused and said flatly, "What's more, it's about identity or reputation, I believe I won't get any worse."

"I..." Armand opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to comment on Margaret's last sentence, and Margaret just smiled and looked at him.

"You don't have to comfort me at all, it's nothing, Monsieur Armand. I can't cover everyone's mouth, cover everyone's eyes, I can't change the past, but I can always choose the future, right?"

Marguerite's words made Armand smile at the end.

"Yes, what you say strikes me as courageous."

Margaret blinked: "I've always been good at encouraging myself like this, because right now, they're the only ones that can be spent in large amounts without me having to pay anything."

The young man smiled: "Then are you willing to accept my concerns?"

"Of course it's possible, it couldn't be better." Margaret said with a smile.Armand also smiled slightly.

The two of them were talking, and doing so in this small train compartment seemed to make the long night no longer seem boring and depressing.

They got off the train at ten o'clock the next morning, Armand hired a carriage, and the group finally arrived at Armand's home after an hour.

It was a modest house, and it could be seen that although Armand's family did not have any titles, it was still a relatively well-to-do family.

The old Mr. Duval and Armand look very similar. No, it should be said that Armand is very similar to his father, with the same blond hair and tall figure, but Armand's father is stronger.

Armand's mother was such a gentle beauty that her daughter, Armand's sister Louise, the protagonist of the wedding, also inherited good looks.

They warmly welcomed Margaret, as if no one cared about her being a courtesan.

Margaret was even a little surprised by this, but she couldn't help but sigh later.

"Have you told your family about me, right?" Marguerite asked Armand in a spare moment, and the blond young man smiled slightly.

"I'm just telling the truth, you deserve this respect, and that has never had anything to do with me."

Margaret looked at each other, feeling a little moved in her heart.

"Thank you." She blinked to cover up those little emotions, and the young man smiled a little embarrassedly, as if he couldn't accept her thanks naturally.

Armand arranged them in the guest room, Margaret shared one room, Julie and Naning shared one room, and Eric temporarily lived in Armand's brother's room, the boy who was a few years older than Eric at the moment He is studying in London, England, so he can't make it back to attend his sister's wedding.

Mrs. Duval loved Eric very much, and always said that he looked like her youngest son.

"But he's not as cute as you, my dear." Mrs. Duval said, Eric just smiled, showing the dimples on his cheeks, sweet and supple like a deer, who would think of such a child in the small shop Li still looks very fierce?

They had lunch and rested for a while, and then Armand's sister Louise took Marguerite to her room.

"Armand said that you want to attend my wedding." The little girl was several years younger than Marguerite, but there was already a gentleness of being a wife in her eyes.

"I think your brother may have told you that I have to make an engagement dress for the Duchess, but to be honest, I still have no idea. Your brother is so generous, I have this for myself to attend your The wedding honor is greatly appreciated."

Louise smiled: "You can call me Louise directly, I have known you for a long time." After she finished saying this, she suddenly realized that something was wrong, so she looked at Margaret apologetically.

"It's okay, that's the truth, isn't it?"

"No, my fault," said Louise, "but please believe me I never meant it, I mean, I even longed to see you, because of everything you did."

Margaret looked at each other, and Louise looked at her, and smiled.

"Although Armand didn't say much, I know." Louise whispered, "I know he has always liked a girl, but I didn't know it was you before, and then, to be honest, I was a little shocked," she said As he spoke, he looked at Margaret apologetically, as if all this was her fault.

"But soon, after he came back, I felt that he changed a lot. I don't know how to describe that feeling, but, my brother Armand, he has always been a gentle and stubborn person, and also a little innocent and romantic. But since he came back, he has matured a lot, I think, all of this is related to you. In addition, those rumors, I have to say, I am sincerely grateful to you."

She spoke so sincerely, her green eyes were like green grapes in summer, with a dewy luster.

"You make me ashamed to say that, Miss Louise."

"No, please call me Louise."

"Louise," said Margaret, who nodded with a smile.

The strangeness between the two women seemed to be brought closer by this title.Even though it was the first time they met, the friendliness and sincerity Margaret gained from here seemed to be the most she had gained in the past six months.

"You don't know how much I thank you, and your brother Armand, and your family. I should not have accepted such a kindness, I am not qualified, but your brother and you and your family The generosity of giving me this opportunity and helping me through this, I can't even think of how I can give it back."

"No, of course you don't need to repay, you have already given it." Louise held Margaret's hand, she looked so gentle.

Margaret naturally knew that it was impossible for Louise to be so friendly to her because of her, but in general, the girl who was about to become a wife gave her kindness that ordinary people could not give her.

"I'm always in debt to you," Margaret said, stopping Louise when she wanted to say no.

"I just want to let you understand that as friends, even if we just met, I will always help if you need it in the future. This is just a courtesy among friends, just like you respect me."

Louise stopped pushing. They looked at each other and smiled, as if they had reached an agreement.

Then, Louise took Marguerite to the closet, where she took out her wedding dress for tomorrow.

It was a very beautiful white dress, with a puffed skirt, a finely textured veil, and a very thin waist. It was perfect with Louise's blond hair.

"If you want, I think I can give you some embellished gifts." Margaret said softly.

Louise's eyes lit up: "Do you have a better suggestion?"

"Yes, I think, we can always try." Margaret said with a smile, and she already had an idea in her heart.

Early the next morning, the bride was putting on makeup with the help of her mother.

"Where is Madam?" Nanin asked Julie.

"Madame has gone out and said she will be back soon." Julie replied, although it was her first visit to Mr. Duval's house, both the host and hostess were very kind, and they were very kind to their cooking skills. With so many compliments, Julie fell in love with this place temporarily from the bottom of her heart and was willing to help.

Half an hour later, Margaret returned, followed by Eric, holding some flowers and ribbons.

Margaret brought Louise's veil over, and Eric stood beside her holding flowers, and she started to sew. After 10 minutes, a smile appeared on the corner of the woman's mouth.