tion,
Master Pothier."

"Oh, yes! trust me, Dame Bedard. I have made it a donation entre vifs,
revocable pour cause d'ingratitude, if your future son-in-law, Antoine
la Chance, should fail in his duty to you and to Zoe."

"And he won't do his duty to Zoe, unless he does it to me, Master
Pothier. But are you sure it is strong enough? Will it hold Dame La
Chance by the foot, so that she cannot revoke her gifts although I may
revoke mine?"

"Hold Dame La Chance by the foot? It will hold her as fast as a
snapping-turtle does a frog. In proof of it, see what Ricard says, page
970; here is the book." Master Pothier opened his tattered volume, and
held it up to the dame. She shook her head.

"Thanks, I have mislaid my glasses. Do you read, please!"

"Most cheerfully, good dame! A notary must have eyes for everybody--eyes
like a cat's, to see in the dark, and power to draw them in like a
turtle, so that he may see nothing that he does not want to see."

"Oh, bless the eyes of the notary!" Dame Bedard grew impatient. "Tell me
what the book says about gifts revocable--that is what concerns me and
Zoe."

"Well, here it is, dame: 'Donations stipulated revocable at the pleasure
of the donor are null. But this condition does not apply to donations by
contract of marriage.' Bourdon also says--"

"A fig for Bourdon, and all such drones! I want my gift made revocable,
and Dame La Chance's not! I know by long experience with my dear feu
Bedard how necessary it is to hold the reins tight over the men.
Antoine is a good boy, but he will be all the better for a careful
mother-in-law's supervision."

Master Pothier rubbed the top of his wig with his forefinger.

"Are you sure, dame, that Antoine La Chance will wear the bridle
easily?"

"Assuredly! I should like to see son-in-law of mine who would not!
Besides, Antoine is in the humor just now to refuse nothing for sake of
Zoe. Have you mentioned the children, Master Pothier? I do not intend to
let Dame La Chance control the children any more than Zoe and Antoine."

"I have made you tutrice perpetuelle, as we say in the court, and here
it is," said he, placing the tip of his finger on a certain line in the
document.

Zoe looked down and blushed to her finger-ends. She presently rallied,
and said with some spirit,--"Never mind them, Master Pothier! Don't put
them in the contract! Let Antoine have something to say about them. He
would take me without a dower, I know, and time e