Urbain?" asked the marquise. "Send for your
brother and inform him."

Young Madame de Bellegarde laid her hand on the bell-rope. "He was to
make some visits with me, and I was to go and knock--very softly, very
softly--at the door of his study. But he can come to me!" She pulled
the bell, and in a few moments Mrs. Bread appeared, with a face of calm
inquiry.

"Send for your brother," said the old lady.

But Newman felt an irresistible impulse to speak, and to speak in a
certain way. "Tell the marquis we want him," he said to Mrs. Bread, who
quietly retired.

Young Madame de Bellegarde went to her sister-in-law and embraced her.
Then she turned to Newman, with an intense smile. "She is charming. I
congratulate you."

"I congratulate you, sir," said Madame de Bellegarde, with extreme
solemnity. "My daughter is an extraordinarily good woman. She may have
faults, but I don't know them."

"My mother does not often make jokes," said Madame de Cintre; "but when
she does they are terrible."

"She is ravishing," the Marquise Urbain resumed, looking at her
sister-in-law, with her head on one side. "Yes, I congratulate you."

Madame de Cintre turned away, and, taking up a piece of tapestry,
began to ply the needle. Some minutes of silence elapsed, which were
interrupted by the arrival of M. de Bellegarde. He came in with his
hat in his hand, gloved, and was followed by his brother Valentin, who
appeared to have just entered the house. M. de Bellegarde looked around
the circle and greeted Newman with his usual finely-measured courtesy.
Valentin saluted his mother and his sisters, and, as he shook hands with
Newman, gave him a glance of acute interrogation.

"Arrivez donc, messieurs!" cried young Madame de Bellegarde. "We have
great news for you."

"Speak to your brother, my daughter," said the old lady.

Madame de Cintre had been looking at her tapestry. She raised her eyes
to her brother. "I have accepted Mr. Newman."

"Your sister has consented," said Newman. "You see after all, I knew
what I was about."

"I am charmed!" said M. de Bellegarde, with superior benignity.

"So am I," said Valentin to Newman. "The marquis and I are charmed. I
can't marry, myself, but I can understand it. I can't stand on my head,
but I can applaud a clever acrobat. My dear sister, I bless your union."

The marquis stood looking for a while into the crown of his hat. "We
have been prepared," he said at last "but it is inevitable tha