La Mare au Diable

George Sand

A young widower, Germain, lives with his in-laws and three children. His father-in-law pushes him to remarry for the sake of the children. Germain agrees to visit a widow from a neighboring region who is looking for a new husband. He agrees to accompany Marie, a young girl who has found a place on a farm in the same region. One of Germain's children, Petit-Pierre, has managed to follow them. Marie takes care of him like a real mother. As a storm breaks out, they take refuge in the forest and camp on the edge of a pond. Marie and Germain talk, confide in each other and become closer to each other in this enchanting place.