e Comte Victurnien d'Esgrignon.

Idolized by his father, idolized by his aunt, the young heir was a
spoilt child in every sense of the word; but still a spoilt child who
justified paternal and maternal illusions. Maternal, be it said, for
Victurnien's aunt was truly a mother to him; and yet, however careful
and tender she may be that never bore a child, there is something
lacking in her motherhood. A mother's second sight cannot be acquired.
An aunt, bound to her nursling by ties of such pure affection as united
Mlle. Armande to Victurnien, may love as much as a mother might; may be
as careful, as kind, as tender, as indulgent, but she lacks the mother's
instinctive knowledge when and how to be severe; she has no sudden
warnings, none of the uneasy presentiments of the mother's heart; for a
mother, bound to her child from the beginnings of life by all the fibres
of her being, still is conscious of the communication, still vibrates
with the shock of every trouble, and thrills with every joy in the
child's life as if it were her own. If Nature has made of woman,
physically speaking, a neutral ground, it has not been forbidden to
her, under certain conditions, to identify herself completely with her
offspring. When she has not merely given life, but given of her
whole life, you behold that wonderful, unexplained, and inexplicable
thing--the love of a woman for one of her children above the others. The
outcome of this story is one more proof of a proven truth--a mother's
place cannot be filled. A mother foresees danger long before a Mlle.
Armande can admit the possibility of it, even if the mischief is done.
The one prevents the evil, the other remedies it. And besides, in the
maiden's motherhood there is an element of blind adoration, she cannot
bring herself to scold a beautiful boy.

A practical knowledge of life, and the experience of business, had
taught the old notary a habit of distrustful clear-sighted observation
something akin to the mother's instinct. But Chesnel counted for so
little in the house (especially since he had fallen into something like
disgrace over that unlucky project of a marriage between a d'Esgrignon
and a du Croisier), that he had made up his mind to adhere blindly in
future to the family doctrines. He was a common soldier, faithful to his
post, and ready to give his life; it was never likely that they would
take his advice, even in the height of the storm; unless chance should
bring him, like