nocking down the
other--figuratively, for their scruples, or for their example with their
sisters. His tastes had led him into the avenues of success, and as he
had not encountered grand resistances, he entertained his opinion of
their sex. The particular maxim he cherished was, to stake everything on
his making a favourable first impression: after which single figure, he
said, all your empty naughts count with women for hundreds, thousands,
millions: noblest virtues are but sickly units. He would have stared
like any Philistine at the tale of their capacity to advance to a
likeness unto men in their fight with the world. Women for him were
objects to be chased, the politician's relaxation, taken like the
sportsman's business, with keen relish both for the pursuit and the
prey, and a view of the termination of his pastime. Their feelings he
could appreciate during the time when they flew and fell, perhaps a
little longer; but the change in his own feelings withdrew him from
the communion of sentiment. This is the state of men who frequent
the avenues of success. At present he was thinking of a wife, and he
approved the epistle to the baroness cordially.

'I do think it a nice kind of letter, and quite humble enough,' said
Clotilde.

He agreed, 'Yes, yes: she knows already that this is really serious with
me.'

So much for the baroness.

Now for their parting. A parting that is no worse than the turning of a
page to a final meeting is made light of, but felt. Reason is all in our
favour, and yet the gods are jealous of the bliss of mortals; the slip
between the cup and the lip is emotionally watched for, even though it
be not apprehended, when the cup trembles for very fulness. Clotilde
required reassuring and comforting: 'I am certain you will prevail;
you must; you cannot be resisted; I stand to witness to the fact,' she
sighed in a languor: 'only, my people are hard to manage. I see more
clearly now, that I have imposed on them; and they have given away by a
sort of compact so long as I did nothing decisive. That I see. But,
then again, have I not your spirit in me now? What has ever resisted
you?--Then, as I am Alvan's wife, I share his heart with his fortunes,
and I do not really dread the scenes from anticipating failure,
still-the truth is, I fear I am three parts an actress, and the fourth
feels itself a shivering morsel to face reality. No, I do not really
feel it, but press my hand, I shall be true--I am s