atisfy his political
aspirations by recalling himself regularly to his compatriots; and,
finally, who knows he might be elected deputy. But, as a commencement,
the journal seemed indispensable, and he had a vague notion that the
mother of his new pupil might be induced to defray the expenses of this
Review, but he did not wish to move too rapidly lest he should frighten
the lady away; he intended to prepare the way gently. Unfortunately,
Madame de Barancy, on account of her very fickleness of nature, was
difficult to reach. She would continually change the conversation just
at the important point, because she found it very uninteresting.

"If she could be inspired with an idea of writing!" said Moronval
to himself, and immediately insinuated to her that between Madame de
Sevigne and George Sand there was a vacant niche to fill; but he might
as well have attempted to carry on a conversation with a bird that was
fluttering about his head.

"I am not strong-minded nor literary," said Ida, with a half yawn, one
day when he had been speaking with feverish impatience for a long time.

Moronval finally concluded that a creature so inconsequent must be
dazzled, not led.

One day, when Ida was holding audience in the parlor, telling wonderful
tales of her various acquaintances to whose often plebeian names she
added the _de_ as she pleased, Madame Moronval said, timidly,--

"M. Moronval would like to ask you something, but he dares not."

"O, tell me, tell me!" said the silly little woman, with a sincere wish
to oblige.

The principal was sorely tempted to ask her at once for funds for the
Review, but being himself very distrustful, he thought it wiser to
act with great prudence; so he contented himself with asking Madame de
Barancy to be present at one of their literary reunions on the following
Saturday. Formerly these little fetes took place every week, but since
Madou's fall they had been very infrequent. It was in vain that Moronval
had extinguished a candle with every guest that left, in vain had he
dried the tea-leaves from the teapot in the sun on the window-sill, and
served it again the following week, the expense still was too great. But
now he determined to hazard another attempt in that direction. Madame de
Barancy accepted the invitation with eagerness. The idea of making
her appearance in the salon as a married woman of position was very
attractive to her, for it was one round of the ladder conquered, on
wh