interrupted,
"that I can, without sorrow, see you choose a girl of no family, a girl
who is outside the pale of social recognition? Don't you understand
my disquietude when I think that the girl that you will marry is the
daughter of such a woman as Baroness Trigault, an unfortunate girl
whom her mother cannot even recognize, since her mother is a married
woman----"

"Ah! mother, is that Marguerite's fault?"

"Did I say it was her fault? No--I only pray God that you may never
have to repent of choosing a wife whose past life must ever remain an
impenetrable mystery!"

Pascal had become very pale. "Mother!" he said in a quivering voice,
"mother!"

"I mean that you will only know so much of Mademoiselle Marguerite's
past life as she may choose to tell you," continued the obdurate old
lady. "You heard Madame Vantrasson's ignoble allegations. It has been
said that she was the mistress, not the daughter, of the Count de
Chalusse. Who knows what vile accusations you may be forced to meet?
And what is your refuge, if doubts should ever assail you? Mademoiselle
Marguerite's word! Will this be sufficient? It is now, perhaps; but will
it suffice in years to come? I would have my son's wife above suspicion;
and she--why, there is not a single episode in her life that does not
expose her to the most atrocious calumny."

"What does calumny matter? it will never shake my faith in her. The
misfortunes which you reproach Marguerite for sanctify her in my eyes."

"Pascal!"

"What! Am I to scorn her because she has been unfortunate? Am I to
regard her birth as a crime? Am I to despise her because her MOTHER is
a despicable woman? No--God be praised! the day when illegitimate
children, the innocent victims of their mother's faults, were branded as
outcasts, is past."

But Madame Ferailleur's prejudices were too deeply rooted to be shaken
by these arguments. "I won't discuss this question, my son," she
interrupted, "but take care. By declaring children irresponsible for
their mother's faults, you will break the strongest tie that binds a
woman to duty. If the son of a pure and virtuous wife, and the son of
an adulterous woman meet upon equal ground, those who are held in check
only by the thought of their children will finally say to themselves,
what does it matter?"

It was the first time that a cloud had ever arisen between mother and
son. On hearing his dearest hopes thus attacked, Pascal was tempted
to rebel, and a flood