
A quiet, almost forgotten village lies hidden among willow groves and fragrant roses, its centerpiece a modest stone chapel crowned by a square tower that tells time only through the cries of crows. Around the church, smooth gray slabs bear the names of men long gone, their letters worn like sundials submerged in grass. The air is scented with pine and the soft rustle of leaves, creating a timeless tableau that feels both ancient and tender.
Into this serene setting steps a young girl, her silk dress embroidered with delicate fern branches and a green velvet belt clasped with an old‑world leaf‑shaped buckle. She moves slowly, almost as if she belongs to the very landscape, and settles on one of the taller stones, her hand hovering over an inscription that bears her own name. The moment is charged with quiet wonder, hinting at a mystery that ties her fate to the forgotten names etched in the stone.
As she reads the faded letters, the silence of the chapel and the murmurs of the village seem to hold their breath, inviting listeners to follow her gentle search for meaning in a place where past and present intertwine.
Language
fr
Duration
~6 hours (397K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2008-10-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1863–1921
A French novelist writing under the name B. de Buxy, she published popular fiction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her books include sentimental and domestic novels such as La Demoiselle au bois dormant, written for readers who enjoyed character, family tensions, and moral drama.
View all books
by comtesse de Sophie Ségur

by Elisée Reclus

by comtesse de Sophie Ségur

by Alfred Assollant

by Alfred Assollant

by comtesse de Sophie Ségur

by Louis Pergaud