At the time, he was riding by the Valmonde residence while she was in front of the house. ... "The roof came down steep and black like a cowl, " the narrator says, and the shade of oak trees surrounding the dwelling suggested that it was a tomb rather than a house. ... When his father was in charge, they were in high spirits. When Madame Valmonde enters the house, Desiree is on a couch holding the baby. ... From a drawer in the house, he withdraws the letters he had received from her during their courtship. ...

• Word Count: 2905
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

Despite the encouragement of the house overseer, Frank Crawley, and Maxim's sister, Beatrice, the heroine struggles in her new life at Manderley. ... Swept up in the preparations, the heroine's spirits begin to revive. ... But their exile owes not only to the physical destruction of their home; a house can be rebuilt. ...

• Word Count: 3026
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School