The girl was one of those pretty and charming young creatures who sometimes are born, as if by a slip of fate, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no expectations, no way of being known, understood, loved, married by any rich and distinguished man; so she let herself be married to a little clerk of the Ministry of Public Instruction.
The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o'clock; in some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 26th.
"My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel," said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen; "in the meantime you must try and put up with me." Framton Nuttel endeavored to say the correct something which should duly flatter the niece of the moment without unduly discounting the aunt that was to come.
TRUE!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses—not destroyed—not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad?
Vera tells Mr. Nuttel about her uncles’ tragic hunting accident that happened three years ago. She says her aunt has never accepted their deaths and keeps the French window open expecting them to walk in some day. Will they return?
The narrator of the story admits that he was a very troubled man and explains why and how he committed his crime. The police arrive at his house, but will they be able to uncover the truth?
Mathilde and her husband get invited to a ball. She spends all their money to get a new dress and borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend. After the ball, the necklace is gone. Will they be able to replace it? And at what cost?
On a beautiful summer day, people of a small village gather together in the village square for the annual lottery. Who will win the lottery? And what will the prize be?
