title: The Sunlight on the Garden: A Memoir of a Family in Love, War and Madness
author:  Elizabeth Speller 
description: <DIV><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Elizabeth Speller is a poet and journalist who has written for the <I>Independent on Sunday</I>, <I>Observer</I>,<I> </I>and <I>Woman's Journal</I>. Her previous books include <I>Athens</I><I>: A New Guide, Following Hadrian, </I>and<I> Granta City Guides Rome.</I></P></DIV>
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  # Monsieur Motte
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Grace Elizabeth King
  
  
  This page copyright © 2002 Munsey's.
  
  
  http://www.munseys.com
  
  MONSIEUR MOTTE.
  
  
  II. ON THE PLANTATION.
  
  
  THE DRAMA OF AN EVENING.
  
  
  MARRIAGE OF MARIE MODESTE.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### MONSIEUR MOTTE.
  
  
  
  
  
  IT was near mid-day in June. A dazzling stream of vertical sun-rays
  
  
  fell into the quadrangular courtyard of the Institute St. Denis, and
  
  
  filled it to suffocation with light and heat. The flowers which grew in
  
  
  little beds, dotting the gray-flagged surface, bowed their heads under
  
  
  their leaves for shelter.
  
  
    
  A thin strip of shadow, stretching from the side of the
  
  
  schoolhouse, began to creep over the garden, slowly following the sun
  
  
  in its progress past the obtruding walls of neighboring buildings,
  
  
  until he should disappear behind a certain square steeple far off in
  
  
  the distance; then the shade would entirely cover the yard; then the
  
  
  stars would be coming out, languid a