ague; and, on the question of
marriage especially, he is a bold man who would take side for or
against.

Thus Mme. Desclavettes was the only one to raise her voice. Taking
Mlle. Gilberte's hands within hers:

"Let me scold you, my dear," said she, "for having received thus a
poor young man who was only trying to please you."

Excepting her mother, too weak to take her defence, and her brother,
who was debarred from interfering, the young girl understood readily,
that, in that parlor, every one, overtly or tacitly, was against her.
The idea came to her mind to repeat there boldly what she had already
told her father that she was resolved not to marry, and that she
would not marry, not being one of those weak girls, without energy,
whom they dress in white, and drag to church against their will.

Such a bold declaration would be in keeping with her character.
But she feared a terrible, and perhaps degrading scene. The most
intimate friends of the family were ignorant of its most painful
sores. In presence of his friends, M. Favoral dissembled, speaking
in a mild voice, and assuming a kindly smile. Should she suddenly
reveal the truth?

"It is childish of you to run the risk of discouraging a clever
fellow who makes half a million a year," continued the wife of the
old bronze-merchant, to whom such conduct seemed an abominable crime
of _lese-money_. Mlle. Gilberte had withdrawn her hands.

"You did not hear what he said, madame."

"I beg your pardon: I was quite near, and involuntarily--"

"You have heard his--propositions?"

"Perfectly. He was promising you a carriage, a box at the opera,
diamonds, freedom. Isn't that the dream of all young ladies?"

"It is not mine, madame!"

"Dear me! What better can you wish? You must not expect more from
a husband than he can possibly give."

"That is not what I shall expect of him."

In a tone of paternal indulgence, which his looks belied:

"She is mad," suggested M. Favoral.

Tears of indignation filled Mlle. Gilberte's eyes.

"Mme. Desclavettes," she exclaimed, "forgets something. She forgets
that this gentleman dared to tell me that he proposed to settle upon
the woman he marries a large fortune, of which his creditors would
thus be cheated in case of his failure in business."

She thought, in her simplicity, that a cry of indignation would rise
at these words. Instead of which:

"Well, isn't it perfectly natural?" said M. Desclavettes.

"It se