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1 " The nuns were not the only ones to take an interest in French-Canadian cooking that fall. It was a November evening, a little before the first snow. With both her parents out, Madeleine opened the can of maple syrup she had stolen from the Damours grocery store. The maple syrup pie recipe was quite straightforward. Just five ingredients. But Madeleine prepared it with all the care and attention to detail that the Japanese take in making sushi. She worked in religious silence, without making a mess, without spilling flour. The sweet aroma of maple syrup soon floated over the kitchen, then the living room, as the syrup boiled with the heavy cream. A smell delectable enough to wake the dead, to make them wish they were still alive. Madeleine washed the utensils as she went, leaving no trace behind. Once the pie was in the oven, its aroma gained in strength and substance. "
― Éric Dupont , The American Fiancée
2 " There was definitely a cat and another animal, probably a rabbit, in the shed. Her suspicions were confirmed soon enough. Madeleine lit a candle, its light illuminating a wooden hutch where an enormous rabbit was nibbling at some freshly picked clover. In her lap, the little grey cat was all grown up; it was the same cat Madeleine had been holding on the balcony the day when one look from her teal-colored eyes had been enough to floor poor Solange. Holy pictures were pinned over the hutch: Saint Anne, the Miraculous Virgin of the Smile (who cured ten-year-old Thérèse), Saint Veronica holding her veil, and Saint Joan of Arc had all been carefully pinned in a row, looking down tenderly over the big orange rabbit who went on munching his clover. Pinned to the frame of the hutch was a piece of wax paper with the animal's name- Lazarus- written on it. "His name's Lazarus," Madeleine whispered as she grabbed him by the ears.Solange winced in pain."You have to pick them up by the ears or else you hurt them. I'll set him down on your lap."Solange had never touched a living rabbit before. She stroked Lazarus, who right then seemed to her to be the gentlest, most charming thing to ever have walked this earth. "
3 " Delicious aromas wafted in from the kitchen. Eggs, Father Cousineau was quite certain, and unless he was mistaken, fresh bread, baked beans, cretons, some kind of pork glistening with fat, and a full and generous teapot were standing by. The American girl was at work. He noted happily that everyone in the Lamontagne family appeared to have gained weight, even though Lent had just ended. Well-rounded cheeks, tight clothes, generous bosoms... Old Ma Madeleine's sons and daughters had spent an anti-Lent to which the American cook's arrival was surely no stranger. The breakfast table had not yet been cleared when Madeleine the American asked the priest to take a seat. "Please, Father..." She disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a plate piled high with pancakes, eggs, and slices of ham. All swimming in a half-inch of maple syrup. "
4 " Il ne s'agit pas d'être pour ou contre quoi que ce soit, mais d'avancer avec le vent qui vous pousse. "
― Éric Dupont
5 " Cet inconnu me regarde pendant que j'éprouve une émotion ; vite cessons ce spectacle indigne "
6 " le sommeil d'un homme est chose sacrée. "
7 " Je sais que je ne comprends pas tout très vite, mais quand on m'explique, je finis par comprendre. "
8 " Money's no good to you in the bank, in a safe, or under a mattress. Money needs to be in circulation, needs to help people do things. You can't just stand by if your brother's thirsty. Your glass is full? You give him half. You have a slice of pie left? You cut it in two. Do you see, Madeleine? Mom doesn't think like that because they were poor when she was growing up. But poverty begins in the mind. You're not poor. "
9 " Les bellâtres, on les bourre de mensonges. Les autres, les laiderons, les moyens, les "cinq sur dix", ils se prennent la vérité crue. Plus vous êtes laid, plus on vous dit la vérité. Pourquoi? Je ne sais pas. On dirait que la beauté vous attire les mensonges. Vous croyez qu'on dit la vérité à Claudia Schiffer? Non, on lui dit ce qu'on croit qu'elle veut entendre. Peut-être les gens essaient-ils ainsi de cacher leur laideur devant vous, de se faire aimer des beaux et belles. "
