e views
she does. She is quite right, you know, in her opinions. I fully share
them."

Morange laughed complaisantly. He wished to show her that his opinions
were the same. However, as Valerie did not return with Reine, he grew
impatient, and asked permission to go and see what they were about.
Perhaps he himself might be able to help in getting the child ready.

As soon as Seraphine was alone with Mathieu she turned her big, ardent,
gold-flecked eyes upon him. She no longer laughed with the same laugh as
a moment previously; an expression of voluptuous irony appeared on her
bold bad face. After a spell of silence she inquired, "And is my good
cousin Marianne quite well?"

"Quite well," replied Mathieu.

"And the children are still growing?"

"Yes, still growing."

"So you are happy, like a good paterfamilias, in your little nook?"

"Perfectly happy."

Again she lapsed into silence, but she did not cease to look at him,
more provoking, more radiant than ever, with the charm of a young
sorceress whose eyes burn and poison men's hearts. And at last she
slowly resumed: "And so it is all over between us?"

He made a gesture in token of assent. There had long since been a
passing fancy between them. He had been nineteen at the time, and she
two-and-twenty. He had then but just entered life, and she was already
married. But a few months later he had fallen in love with Marianne, and
had then entirely freed himself from her.

"All over--really?" she again inquired, smiling but aggressive.

She was looking very beautiful and bold, seeking to tempt him and carry
him off from that silly little cousin of hers, whose tears would simply
have made her laugh. And as Mathieu did not this time give her any
answer, even by a wave of the hand, she went on: "I prefer that: don't
reply: don't say that it is all over. You might make a mistake, you
know."

For a moment Mathieu's eyes flashed, then he closed them in order that
he might no longer see Seraphine, who was leaning towards him. It seemed
as if all the past were coming back. She almost pressed her lips to his
as she whispered that she still loved him; and when he drew back, full
of mingled emotion and annoyance, she raised her little hand to his
mouth as if she feared that he was again going to say no.

"Be quiet," said she; "they are coming."

The Moranges were now indeed returning with Reine, whose hair had been
curled. The child looked quite delicious in her froc