As the day was pleasant, Madame Valmondé drove over to L'Abri to see Désirée and the baby.
It made her laugh to think of Désirée with a baby. Why, it seemed but yesterday that Désirée was little more than a baby herself; when Monsieur in riding through the gateway of Valmondé had found her lying asleep in the shadow of the big stone pillar.
The little one awoke in his arms and began to cry for "Dada." That was as much as she could do or say. Some people thought she might have strayed there of her own accord, for she was of the toddling age. The prevailing belief was that she had been purposely left by a party of Texans, just below the plantation. Madame Valmondé fond belief was that Désirée had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection, seeing that she was without child. For the girl grew to be beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere, -the idol of Valmondé.
It was no wonder, when she stood one day against the stone pillar in whose shadow she had lain asleep, eighteen years before, that Armand Aubigny riding by and seeing her there, had fallen in love with her. That was the way all the Aubignys fell in love, as if struck by a pistol shot. The wonder was that he had not loved her before; for he had known her since his father brought him home from Paris, a boy of eight, after his mother died there. The passion that awoke in him that day, when he saw her at the gate, swept along like an avalanche, or like anything that drives headlong over all obstacles.
Question 1: Why did Madame Valmondé visit L'Abri?
Answer: Madame Valmondé visited L'Abri to see Désirée and the baby.
Question 2: What memory made Madame Valmondé laugh regarding Désirée?
Answer: Madame Valmondé laughed at the thought of Désirée with a baby because it seemed like just yesterday that Désirée herself was little more than a baby.
Question 3: What was the prevailing belief regarding Désirée's origin?
Answer: The prevailing belief was that Désirée had been purposely left by a party of Texans just below the plantation.
Question 4: What was Madame Valmondé's belief about Désirée's arrival?
Answer: Madame Valmondé believed that Désirée had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection, seeing that she was without child.
Question 5: How did Armand Aubigny fall in love with Désirée?
Answer: Armand Aubigny fell in love with Désirée when he saw her standing against the stone pillar in whose shadow she had lain asleep eighteen years before, and he was struck by her beauty.
Question 6: What metaphor is used to describe Armand Aubigny's passion for Désirée?
Answer: Armand Aubigny's passion for Désirée is described as sweeping along like an avalanche or anything that drives headlong over all obstacles.