which the depth of her political
feeling mingled with the warmth of affection,--a combination which gives
to women so great a power of persuasion; they know how to give to the
keenest arguments a tone of feeling. In her desire to justify all her
husband's actions Henriette had foreseen the criticisms that would rise
in my mind as soon as I saw the servile effects of a courtier's life
upon him. Monsieur de Mortsauf, king in his own castle and surrounded
by an historic halo, had, to my eyes, a certain grandiose dignity. I
was therefore greatly astonished at the distance he placed between the
duchess and himself by manners that were nothing less than obsequious. A
slave has his pride and will only serve the greatest despots. I confess
I was humiliated at the degradation of one before whom I trembled as the
power that ruled my love. This inward repulsion made me understand the
martyrdom of women of generous souls yoked to men whose meannesses they
bury daily. Respect is a safeguard which protects both great and small
alike; each side can hold its own. I was respectful to the duchess
because of my youth; but where others saw only a duchess I saw the
mother of my Henriette, and that gave sanctity to my homage.

We reached the great court-yard of Frapesle, where we found the others.
The Comte de Mortsauf presented me very gracefully to the duchess, who
examined me with a cold and reserved air. Madame de Lenoncourt was then
a woman fifty-six years of age, wonderfully well preserved and with
grand manners. When I saw the hard blue eyes, the hollow temples, the
thin emaciated face, the erect, imposing figure slow of movement, and
the yellow whiteness of the skin (reproduced with such brilliancy in the
daughter), I recognized the cold type to which my own mother belonged,
as quickly as a mineralogist recognizes Swedish iron. Her language was
that of the old court; she pronounced the "oit" like "ait," and said
"frait" for "froid," "porteux" for "porteurs." I was not a courtier,
neither was I stiff-backed in my manner to her; in fact I behaved so
well that as I passed the countess she said in a low voice, "You are
perfect."

The count came to me and took my hand, saying: "You are not angry with
me, Felix, are you? If I was hasty you will pardon an old soldier? We
shall probably stay here to dinner, and I invite you to dine with us
on Thursday, the evening before the duchess leaves. I must go to Tours
to-morrow to settle some busine