r," she continued,
addressing the clerk, "it is easier, is it not, to mark out passages in
a contract than to add them?"

The clerk made an affirmative sign.

"Then put in what you were told to write; later, if madame persists, the
clause can be stricken out."

The clerk bowed and left the room.

When the two sisters-in-law were alone together, Brigitte began.

"Ah ca!" she cried, "have you lost your head? What is this crotchet
you've taken into it?"

"It is not a crotchet; it is a fixed idea."

"Which you got from the Abbe Gondrin; you dare not deny that you went to
see him with Celeste."

"It is true that Celeste and I saw our director this morning, but I did
not open my lips to him about what I intended to do."

"So, then, it is in your own empty head that this notion sprouted?"

"Yes. As I told you yesterday, I think Celeste can be more suitably
married, and my intention is not to rob myself for a marriage of which I
disapprove."

"_You_ disapprove! Upon my word! are we all to take madame's advice?"

"I know well," replied Madame Thuillier, "that I count for nothing in
this house. So far as I am concerned, I have long accepted my position;
but, when the matter concerns the happiness of a child I regard as my
own--"

"Parbleu!" cried Brigitte, "you never knew how to have one; for,
certainly, Thuillier--"

"Sister," said Madame Thuillier, with dignity, "I took the sacrament
this morning, and there are some things I cannot listen to."

"There's a canting hypocrite for you!" cried Brigitte; "playing the
saint, and bringing trouble into families! And you think to succeed, do
you? Wait till Thuillier comes home, and he'll shake this out of you."

By calling in the marital authority in support of her own, Brigitte
showed weakness before the unexpected resistance thus made to her
inveterate tyranny. Madame Thuillier's calm words, which became every
moment more resolute, baffled her completely, and she found no resource
but insolence.

"A drone!" she cried; "a helpless good-for-nothing! who can't even pick
up her own handkerchief! that thing wants to be mistress of this house!"

"I wish so little to be its mistress," said Madame Thuillier, "that last
night I allowed you to silence me after the first words I said in behalf
of Celeste. But I am mistress of my own property, and as I believe that
Celeste will be wretched in this marriage, I keep it to use as may seem
best to me."

"Your property, indeed!