here is not a family
among them that would have acted otherwise. And however that may be,
we take the cue from no one. The Bellegardes have been used to set the
example not to wait for it."

"You would have waited long before any one would have set you such an
example as this," exclaimed Newman. "Have I done anything wrong?" he
demanded. "Have I given you reason to change your opinion? Have you
found out anything against me? I can't imagine."

"Our opinion," said Madame de Bellegarde, "is quite the same as at
first--exactly. We have no ill-will towards yourself; we are very far
from accusing you of misconduct. Since your relations with us began you
have been, I frankly confess, less--less peculiar than I expected. It
is not your disposition that we object to, it is your antecedents. We
really cannot reconcile ourselves to a commercial person. We fancied in
an evil hour that we could; it was a great misfortune. We determined to
persevere to the end, and to give you every advantage. I was resolved
that you should have no reason to accuse me of want of loyalty. We let
the thing certainly go very far; we introduced you to our friends. To
tell the truth, it was that, I think, that broke me down. I succumbed
to the scene that took place on Thursday night in these rooms. You must
excuse me if what I say is disagreeable to you, but we cannot release
ourselves without an explanation."

"There can be no better proof of our good faith," said the marquis,
"than our committing ourselves to you in the eyes of the world the other
evening. We endeavored to bind ourselves--to tie our hands, as it were."

"But it was that," added his mother, "that opened our eyes and broke our
bonds. We should have been most uncomfortable! You know," she added in a
moment, "that you were forewarned. I told you we were very proud."

Newman took up his hat and began mechanically to smooth it; the very
fierceness of his scorn kept him from speaking. "You are not proud
enough," he observed at last.

"In all this matter," said the marquis, smiling, "I really see nothing
but our humility."

"Let us have no more discussion than is necessary," resumed Madame de
Bellegarde. "My daughter told you everything when she said she gave you
up."

"I am not satisfied about your daughter," said Newman; "I want to know
what you did to her. It is all very easy talking about authority and
saying you commanded her. She didn't accept me blindly, and she wouldn't
have