\"YoushouldjusthaveseenthatTartuffe！\"continuedMinard。\"Hehadnosoonergoneoutthanhereturned，bringingthenews。Aseverybodywaslongingtogetaway，therefollowedageneralhelter—skelter。Andthenwhatdoesourmando？HegoesbacktoMadameLambert，whowascryingthatshewasruined！shewaslost！——whichmightverywellbetrue，butitmightalsobeonlyascenearrangedbetweentheminpresenceofthecompany，whomthewoman’soutcriesdetainedintheantechamber。’Don’tbeanxious，mygoodwoman，’saidlaPeyrade；’theinvestmentwasmadeatyourrequest，consequently，Ioweyounothing；
BUTitisenoughthatthemoneypassedthroughmyhandstomakemyconsciencetellmeIamresponsible。Ifthenotary’sassetsarenotenoughtopayyouIwilldoso。’\"
\"Yes，\"saidPhellion，\"thatwasmyideaasyoutoldit；theintermediaryisoroughttoberesponsible。IshouldnothavehesitatedtodoasMonsieurdelaPeyradedid，andIdonotthinkthataftersuchconductasthatheoughttobetaxedwithJesuitism。\"
\"Yes，youwouldhavedoneso，\"saidMinard，\"andsoshouldI，butweshouldn’thavedoneitwithabrassband；weshouldhavepaidourmoneyquietly，likegentlemen。Butthiselectoralmanager，howishegoingtopayit？Outofthe’dot’？\"
AtthismomentthelittlepageenteredtheroomandgavealettertoFelixPhellion。ItcamefromperePicot，andwaswrittenathisdictationbyMadameLambert，forwhichreasonwewillnotreproducetheorthography。ThewritingofMadameLambertwasofthosethatcanneverbeforgottenwhenonceseen。Recognizingitinstantly，Felixhastenedtosay：——
\"Aletterfromtheprofessor\"；then，beforebreakingtheseal，headded，\"Willyoupermitme，Monsieurlemaire。\"
\"He’llrateyoufinely，\"saidMinard，laughing。\"Ineversawanythingsocomicalashiswrathlastnight。\"
Felix，ashereadtheletter，smiledtohimself。Whenhehadfinishedit，hepassedittohisfather，saying：——
\"Readitaloudifyoulike。\"
Whereupon，withhissolemnvoiceandmanner，Phellionreadasfollows：——
MydearFelix，——Ihavejustreceivedyournote；itcameinthenickoftime，forIwas，astheysay，inafurywithyou。Youtellmethatyouwereguiltyofthatabuseofconfidence（aboutwhichI
intendedtowriteyouapieceofmymind）inordertogiveaknock—downblowtomyrelationsbyprovingthatamancapableofmakingsuchcomplicatedcalculationsasyourdiscoveryrequiredwasnotamantoputinalunaticasylumordragbeforeajudiciarycouncil。Thatargumentpleasesme，anditmakessuchagoodanswertotheinfamousproceedingsofmyrelationsthatI
praiseyouforhavinghadtheidea。Butyousoldittome，thatargument，prettydearwhenyouputmeincompanywithastar，foryouknowverywellTHATpropinquitywouldn’tpleasemeatall。Itisnotatmyage，andaftersolvingthegreatproblemofperpetualmotion，thatamancouldtakeupwithsuchrubbishasthat，——goodonlyforboysandgreenhornslikeyou；andthatiswhatIhavetakenthelibertythismorningtogoandtelltheministerofpublicinstruction，bywhomImustsayIwasreceivedwiththemostperfecturbanity。Iaskedhimtoseewhether，ashehadmadeamistakeandsentthemtothewrongaddress，hecouldnottakebackhiscrossandhispension，——thoughtobesure，asItoldhim，Ideservedthemforotherthings。
\"Thegovernment，\"hereplied，\"isnotinthehabitofmakingmistakes；whatitdoesisalwaysproperlydone，anditneverannulsanordinancesignedbythehandofhisMajesty。YourgreatlaborshavedeservedthetwofavorstheKinghasgrantedyou；itisalong—standingdebt，whichIamhappytopayoffinhisname。\"
\"ButFelix？\"Isaid；\"becauseafterallforayoungmanitisnotsuchabaddiscovery。\"
\"MonsieurFelixPhellion，\"repliedtheminister，\"willreceiveinthecourseofthedayhisappointmenttotherankofChevalieroftheLegionofhonor；Iwillhaveitsignedthismorningbytheking。Moreover，thereisavacantplaceattheAcademyofSciences，andifyouarenotacandidateforit——\"
\"I，intheAcademy！\"Iinterrupted，withthefranknessofspeechyouknowIalwaysuse；\"Iexecrateacademies；theyarestiflers，extinguishers，assemblagesofsloths，idlers，shopswithbigsignsandnothingtosellinside——\"
\"Well，then，\"saidtheminister，smiling，\"IthinkthatatthenextelectionMonsieurFelixPhellionwillhaveeverychance，andamongthosechancesIcounttheinfluenceofthegovernmentwhichissecuredtohim。\"
There，mypoorboy，isallthatIhavebeenabletodotorewardyourgoodintentionsandtoprovetoyouthatIamnolongerangry。Ithinktherelationsaregoingtopullalongface。Comeandtalkaboutitto—dayatfouro’clock，——forIdon’tdineafterbedtime，asIsawsomepeopledoinglastnightinahousewhereI
hadoccasiontomentionyourtalentsinamannerthatwasveryadvantageoustoyou。MadameLambert，whodoesbetterwithasaucepanthanwithpenandink，shalldistinguishherself，thoughitisFriday，andsheneverletsmeoffafastday。Butshehaspromisedusafishdinnerworthyofanarchbishop，withafinehalf—bottleofchampagne（doubledifneedbe）towashitdown。
Youroldprofessorandfriend，Picot（Nepomucene），ChevalieroftheLegionofhonor。
P。S。——Doyouthinkyoucouldobtainfromyourrespectablemotheralittleflaskofthatoldandexcellentcognacyouoncegaveme？
Notadropremains，andyesterdayIwasforcedtodrinksomestuffonlyfittobathehorses’feet，asIdidnothesitatetosaytothebeautifulHebewhoservedittome。
\"Ofcourseheshallhavesome，\"saidMadamePhellion；\"notaflask，butagallon。\"
\"AndI，\"saidMinard，\"whopiquemyselfonmine，whichdidn’tcomefromBrigitte’sgrocereither，I’llsendhimseveralbottles；butdon’ttellhimwhosentthem，Monsieurlechevalier，foryounevercantellhowthatsingularbeingwilltakethings。\"
\"Wife，\"saidPhellion，suddenly，\"getmemyblackcoatandawhitecravat。\"
\"Whereareyougoing？\"askedMadamePhellion。\"Totheminister，tothankhim？\"
\"Bringme，Isay，thosearticlesofhabiliment。Ihaveanimportantvisittomake；andMonsieurlemairewill，Iknow，excuseme。\"
\"Imyselfmustbeoff，\"saidMinard。\"I，too，haveimportantbusiness，thoughitisn’taboutastar。\"
QuestionedinvainbyFelixandhiswife，Phellioncompletedhisattirewithapairofwhitegloves，sentforacarriage，and，attheendofhalfanhour，enteredthepresenceofBrigitte，whomhefoundpresidingoverthecarefulputtingawayofthechina，glass，andsilverwhichhadperformedtheirseveralfunctionsthenightbefore。
Leavingthesehousekeepingdetails，shereceivedhervisitor。
\"Well，papaPhellion，\"shesaid，whentheywerebothseatedinthesalon，\"youbrokeyourwordyesterday；youwereluckierthantherest。
Doyouknowwhatatrickthatnotaryplayedus？\"
\"Iknowall，\"saidPhellion；\"anditisthecheckthusunexpectedlygiventotheexecutionofyourplansthatIshalltakeforthetextofanimportantconversationwhichIdesiretohavewithyou。SometimesProvidencewouldseemtotakepleasureincounteractingourbest—laidschemes；sometimes，also，bymeansoftheobstaclesitraisesinourpath，itseemstointendtoindicatethatwearebearingtoofartotherightortotheleft，andshouldpausetoreflectuponourway。\"
\"Providence！\"saidBrigittethestrong—minded，——\"Providencehassomethingelsetodothantolookafterus。\"
\"Thatisoneopinion，\"saidPhellion；\"butImyselfamaccustomedtoseeitsdecreesinthelittleaswellasthegreatthingsoflife；andcertainly，ifithadallowedthefulfilmentofyourengagementswithMonsieurdelaPeyradetobeevenpartiallybegunyesterday，youwouldnothaveseenmehereto—day。\"
\"Then，\"saidBrigitte，\"doyouthinkthatbydefaultofanotarythemarriagewillnottakeplace？Theydosaythatforwantofamonktheabbeywon’tcometoastandstill。\"
\"Dearlady，\"saidthegreatcitizen，\"youwilldomethejusticetofeelthatneitherI，normywife，haveeverattemptedtoinfluenceyourdecision；wehaveallowedouryoungpeopletoloveeachotherwithoutmuchconsiderationastowherethatattachmentwouldlead——\"
\"Itledtoupsettingtheirminds，\"saidBrigitte；\"that’swhatloveis，andthat’swhyIdeprivedmyselfofit。\"
\"Whatyousayis，indeed，trueofmyunfortunateson，\"resumedPhellion；\"for，notwithstandingthenobledistractionshehasendeavoredtogivetohissorrow，heisto—daysomiserablyovercomebyitthatthismorning，inspiteoftheglorioussuccesshehasjustobtained，hewasspeakingtomeofundertakingavoyageofcircumnavigationaroundtheglobe，——arashenterprisewhichwoulddetainhimfromhisnativelandatleastthreeyears，if，indeed，heescapedthedangersofsoprolongedajourney。\"
\"Well，\"saidBrigitte，\"itisn’tabadidea；he’llreturnconsoled，havingdiscoveredthreeorfourmorenewstars。\"
\"Hispresentdiscoverysuffices，\"saidPhellion，withdoublehisordinarygravity，\"anditisundertheauspicesofthattriumph，whichhasplacedhisnameatsogreataheightinthescientificworld，thatIhavetheassurancetosaytoyou，point—blank：Mademoiselle，Ihavecometoaskyou，onbehalfofmyson，wholovesasheisbeloved，forthehandinmarriageofMademoiselleCelesteColleville。\"
\"But，mydearman，\"repliedBrigitte，\"itistoolate；rememberthatweareDIAMETRICALLYengagedtolaPeyrade。\"
\"Itisnever，theysay，toolatetodowell，andyesterdayitwouldhavebeeninmyjudgmenttooearly。Myson，havingtoofferanequivalentforafortune，couldnotsaytoyouuntilto—day：’ThoughCeleste，byyourgenerosityhasa\"dot\"whichmineisfarfromequalling，yetIhavethehonortobeamemberoftheRoyalorderoftheLegionofhonor，andshortly，accordingtoappearance，IshallbeamemberoftheRoyalAcademyofSciences，oneofthefivebranchesoftheInstitute。’\"
\"Certainly，\"saidBrigitte；\"Felixisgettingtobeaveryprettymatch，butwehavepassedourwordtolaPeyrade；thebannsarepublishedatthemayor’soffice，andunlesssomethingextraordinaryhappensthecontractwillbesigned。LaPeyradeisverybusyaboutThuillier’selection，whichhehasnowgotintogoodshape；wehavecapitalengagedwithhimintheaffairofthisnewspaper；anditwouldbeimpossibletogobackonourpromise，evenifwewishedtodoso。\"
\"So，\"saidPhellion，\"inoneoftherareoccasionsoflifewhenreasonandinclinationblendtogether，youthinkyoumustbeguidedsolelybythequestionofmaterialinterests。Celeste，asweknow，hasnoinclinationforMonsieurdelaPeyrade。BroughtupwithFelix——\"
\"BroughtupwithFelix！\"interruptedBrigitte。\"ShewasgivenaperiodoftimetochoosebetweenMonsieurdelaPeyradeandyourson，——that’showwecoerceher，ifyouplease，——andshewouldnottakeMonsieurFelix，whoseatheismistoowellknown。\"
\"Youaremistaken，mademoiselle，mysonisnotanatheist；forVoltairehimselfdoubtediftherecouldbeatheists；andnolaterthanyesterday，inthishouse，anecclesiastic，asadmirableforhistalentsasforhisvirtues，aftermakingamagnificenteulogyofmyson，expressedthedesiretoknowhim。\"
\"Parbleu！yes，toconverthim，\"saidBrigitte。\"Butasforthismarriage，Iamsorrytotellyouthatthemustardismadetoolateforthedinner；ThuillierwillneverrenouncehislaPeyrade。\"
\"Mademoiselle，\"saidPhellion，rising，\"IfeelnohumiliationfortheuselessstepIhavethisdaytaken；Idonotevenaskyoutokeepitsecret，forIshallmyselfmentionittoourfriendsandacquaintances。\"
\"Tellittowhomyoulike，mygoodman，\"repliedBrigitte，acrimoniously。\"Becauseyoursonhasdiscoveredastar，——if，indeed，hediddiscoverit，andnotthatoldfoolthegovernmentdecorated——doyouexpecthimtomarryadaughteroftheKingoftheFrench？\"
\"Enough，\"saidPhellion，\"wewillsaynomore。Imightanswerthat，withoutdepreciatingtheThuilliers，theOrleansfamilyseemstomemoredistinguished；butIdonotliketointroduceacerbityintotheconversation，andtherefore，beggingyoutoreceivetheassuranceofmyhumblerespects，Iretire。\"
Sosaying，hemadehisexitmajestically，andleftBrigittewiththearrowofhiscomparison，dischargedafterthemanneroftheParthian\"inextremis，\"stickinginhermind，andsheherselfinatemperallthemoresavagebecausealready，theeveningbefore，MadameThuillier，aftertheguestsweregone，hadtheincredibleaudacitytosaysomethinginfavorofFelix。Needlesstorelatethatthepoorhelotwasroughlyputdownandtoldtomindherownbusiness。Butthisattemptatawillofherowninhersister—in—lawhadalreadyputtheoldmaidinavilehumor，andPhellion，comingtoreopenthesubject，exasperatedher。Josephine，thecook，andthe\"maledomestic，\"
receivedtheafter—clapofthescenewhichhadjusttakenplace。
Brigittefoundthatinherabsenceeverythinghadbeendonewrong，andputtingherownhandtothework，shehoistedherselfonachair，attheriskofherneck，toreachtheuppershelvesofthecloset，whereherchoicestchina，forgaladays，wascarefullykeptunderlockandkey。
Thisday，whichforBrigittebegansoill，was，beyondallgainsaying，oneofthestormiestandmostportentousofthisnarrative。
CHAPTERXIV
ASTORMYDAY
Asanexacthistorian，wemustgobackandbeginthedayatsixinthemorning，whenwecanseeMadameThuilliergoingtotheMadeleinetohearthemassthattheAbbeGondrinwasinthehabitofsayingatthathour，andafterwardsapproachingtheholytable，——aviaticumwhichpioussoulsneverfailtogivethemselveswhenitisintheirmindstoaccomplishsomegreatresolution。
Aboutmid—daytheabbereceivedavisitinhisownhomefromMadameThuillierandCeleste。Thepoorchildwantedalittledevelopmentofthewordsbywhichthepriesthadgivensecurity，theeveningbefore，inBrigitte’ssalon，fortheeternalwelfareofFelixPhellion。Itseemedstrangetothemindofthisgirl—theologianthat，withoutpractisingreligion，asoulcouldbereceivedintogracebythedivinejustice；forsurelytheanathemaisclear：OutoftheChurchthereisnosalvation。
\"Mydearchild，\"saidtheAbbeGondrin，\"learntounderstandthatsayingwhichseemstoyousoinexplicable。ItismoreasayingofthanksgivingforthosewhohavethehappinesstolivewithinthepaleofourholymothertheChurchthanamaledictionuponthosewhohavethemisfortunetoliveapartfromher。Godseestothedepthsofallhearts；HeknowsHiselect；andsogreatisthetreasureofHisgoodnessthattononeisitgiventolimititsrichesanditsmunificence。WhoshalldaretosaytoGod：Thouwiltbegenerousandmunificentsofarandnofarther。JesusChristforgavethewomaninadultery，andonthecrossHepromisedheaventoathief，inordertoprovetousthatHedealswithmen，notaccordingtohumansentiments，butaccordingtoHISwisdomandHISmercy。HewhothinkshimselfaChristianmaybeintheeyesofGodanidolator；andanotherwhoisthoughtapaganmay，byhisfeelingsandhisactionsbe，withouthisownknowledge，aChristian。Ourholyreligionhasthisthatisdivineaboutit；allgrandeur，allheroismarebutthepracticeofitsprecepts。IwassayingyesterdaytoMonsieurdelaPeyradethatpuresoulsmustbe，incourseoftime，itsinevitableconquest。Itisall—
importanttogivethemtheirjustcredit；thatisaconfidencewhichreturnsgreatdividends；and，besides，charitycommandsit。\"
\"Ah！myGod！\"criedCeleste，\"tolearnthattoolate！I，whocouldhavechosenbetweenFelixandMonsieurdelaPeyrade，anddidnotdaretofollowtheideasofmyheart！Oh！Monsieurl’abbe，couldn’tyouspeaktomymother？Youradviceisalwayslistenedto。\"
\"Impossible，mydearchild，\"repliedthevicar。\"IfIhadthedirectionofMadameColleville’sconscienceImightperhapssayaword，butwearesooftenaccusedofmeddlingimprudentlyinfamilymatters！Besurethatmyinterventionhere，withoutauthorityorright，woulddoyoumoreharmthangood。Itisforyouandforthosewholoveyou，\"headded，givingalooktoMadameThuillier，\"toseeifthesearrangements，alreadysofaradvanced，couldbechangedinthedirectionofyourwishes。\"
Itwaswrittenthatthepoorchildwastodrinktothedregsthecupshehadherselfpreparedbyherintolerance。Astheabbefinishedspeaking，hishousekeepercameintoaskifhewouldreceiveMonsieurFelixPhellion。Thus，liketheCharterof1830，MadamedeGodollo’sofficiousfalsehoodwasturnedintotruth。
\"Gothisway，\"hesaidhastily，showinghistwopenitentsoutbyaprivatecorridor。
LifehassuchstrangeencountersthatitdoessometimeshappenthatthesameformofproceedingmustbeusedbycourtesansandbythemenofGod。
\"Monsieurl’abbe，\"saidFelixtotheyoungvicarassoonastheymet，\"IhaveheardofthekindmannerinwhichyouweresoverygoodastospeakofmeinMonsieurThuillier’ssalonlastnight，andIshouldhavehastenedtoexpressmygratitudeifanotherinteresthadnotdrawnmetoyou。\"
TheAbbeGondrinpassedhastilyoverthecompliments，eagertoknowinwhatwayhecouldbeusefultohisfellow—man。
\"WithanintentionthatIwishtothinkkindly，\"repliedFelix，\"youwerespokentoyesterdayaboutthestateofmysoul。ThosewhoreaditsofluentlyknowmorethanIdoaboutmyinnerbeing，for，duringthelastfewdaysIhavefeltstrange，inexplicablefeelingswithinme。
NeverhaveIdoubtedGod，but，incontactwiththatinfinitudewherehehaspermittedmythoughttofollowthetracesofhisworkIseemtohavegatheredasenseofhimlessvague，moreimmediate；andthishasledmetoaskmyselfwhetheranhonestanduprightlifeistheonlyhomagewhichhisomnipotenceexpectsofme。Nevertheless，therearenumberlessobjectionsrisinginmymindagainsttheworshipofwhichyouaretheminister；whilesensibleofthebeautyofitsexternalforminmanyofitspreceptsandpractices，Ifindmyselfdeterredbymyreason。Ishallhavepaiddearly，perhapsbythehappinessofmywholelife，fortheslownessandwantofvigorwhichIhaveshowninseekingthesolutionofmydoubts。Ihavenowdecidedtosearchtothebottomofthem。Noonesowellasyou，Monsieurl’abbe，canhelpmetosolvethem。Ihavecomewithconfidencetolaythembeforeyou，toaskyoutolistentome，toanswerme，andtotellmebywhatstudiesI
canpursuethesearchforlight。Itisacruellyafflictedsoulthatappealstoyou。Isnotthatagoodgroundfortheseedofyourword？\"
TheAbbeGondrineagerlyprotestedthejoywithwhich，notwithstandinghisowninsufficiency，hewouldundertaketoreplytothescruplesofconscienceintheyoungsavant。Afteraskinghimforaplaceinhisfriendship，andtellinghimtocomeatcertainhoursforconversation，heaskedhimtoread，asafirststep，the\"Thoughts\"ofPascal。A
naturalaffinity，onthesideofscience，would，hebelieved，beestablishedbetweenthespiritofPascalandthatoftheyoungmathematician。
Whilethisscenewaspassing，ascenetowhichthegreatnessoftheinterestsinquestionandthemoralandintellectualelevationofthepersonagesconcernedinitgaveacharacterofgrandeurwhich，likeallreposeful，tranquilaspects，iseasierfartocomprehendthantoreproduce，anotherscene，ofsharpandbitterdiscord，thatchronicmaladyofbourgeoishouseholds，wherethepettinessofmindsandpassionsgivesopenwaytoit，wastakingplaceintheThuillierhome。
Mounteduponherchair，herhairindisorderandherfaceandfingersdirty，Brigitte，dusterinhand，wascleaningtheshelvesofthecloset，whereshewasreplacingherlibraryofplates，dishes，andsauce—boats，whenFlaviecameinandaccostedher。
\"Brigitte，\"shesaid，\"whenyouhavefinishedwhatyouareaboutyouhadbettercomedowntoourapartment，orelseI’llsendCelestetoyou；sheseemstometobeinclinedtomaketrouble。\"
\"Inwhatway？\"askedBrigitte，continuingtodust。
\"IthinksheandMadameThuillierwenttoseetheAbbeGondrinthismorning，andshehasbeenattackingmeaboutFelixPhellion，andtalksofhimasifhewereagod；fromthattorefusingtomarrylaPeyradeisbutastep。\"
\"Thosecursedskull—caps！\"saidBrigitte；\"theymeddleineverything！
Ididn’twanttoinvitehim，butyouwouldinsist。\"
\"Yes，\"saidFlavie，\"itwasproper。\"
\"Proper！Idespiseproprieties！\"criedtheoldmaid。\"He’samakerofspeeches；hesaidnothinglastnightthatwasn’tobjectionable。SendCelestetome；I’llsettleher。\"
AtthisinstantaservantannouncedtoBrigittethearrivalofaclerkfromtheofficeofthenewnotarychosen，indefaultofDupuis，todrawupthecontract。Withoutconsideringherdisorderlyappearance，Brigitteorderedhimtobeshownin，butshemadehimthecondescensionofdescendingfromherperchinsteadoftalkingfromtheheightofit。
\"MonsieurThuillier，\"saidtheclerk，\"cametoourofficethismorningtoexplaintothemastertheclausesofthecontracthehasbeensogoodastoentrusttous。Butbeforewritingdownthestipulations，weareinthehabitofobtainingfromthelipsofeachdonoradirectexpressionofhisorherintentions。Inaccordancewiththisrule，MonsieurThuilliertoldusthathegivestothebridethereversion，athisdeath，ofthehouseheinhabits，whichIpresumetobethisone？\"
\"Yes，\"saidBrigitte，\"thatistheunderstanding。Asforme，IgivethreehundredthousandfrancsayearintheThree—per—cents，capitalandinterest；butthebrideismarriedunderthedotalsystem。\"
\"Thatisso，\"saidtheclerk，consultinghisnotes。\"MademoiselleBrigitte，threethousandfrancsayear。Now，thereisMadameCelesteThuillier，wifeofLouis—JeromeThuillier，whogivessixthousandintheThree—per—cents，capitalandinterest，andsixthousandmoreatherdeath。\"
\"Allthatisjustasifthenotaryhadwrittenitdown，\"saidBrigitte；\"butifitisyourcustomyoucanseemysister—in—law；theywillshowyoutheway。\"
Sosaying，theoldmaidorderedthe\"maledomestic\"totaketheclerktoMadameThuillier。
Amomentlatertheclerkreturned，sayingtherewascertainlysomemisunderstanding，andthatMadameThuillierdeclaredshehadnointentionofmakinganyagreementinfavorofthemarriage。
\"That’saprettything！\"criedBrigitte。\"Comewithme，monsieur。\"
Then，likeahurricane，sherushedintoMadameThuillier’schamber；
thelatterwaspaleandtrembling。
\"What’sthisyouhavetoldmonsieur？——thatyougivenothingtoCeleste’s’dot’？\"
\"Yes，\"saidtheslave，declaringinsurrection，althoughinashakingvoice；\"myintentionistodonothing。\"
\"Yourintention，\"saidBrigitte，scarletwithanger，\"issomethingnew。\"
\"Thatismyintention，\"wasalltherebelreplied。
\"Atleastyouwillgiveyourreasons？\"
\"Themarriagedoesnotpleaseme。\"
\"Ha！andsincewhen？\"
\"Itisnotnecessarythatmonsieurshouldlistentoourdiscussion，\"
saidMadameThuillier；\"itwillnotappearinthecontract。\"
\"Nowonderyouareashamedofit，\"saidBrigitte；\"theappearanceyouaremakingisnotveryflatteringtoyou——Monsieur，\"shecontinued，addressingtheclerk，\"itiseasier，isitnot，tomarkoutpassagesinacontractthantoaddthem？\"
Theclerkmadeanaffirmativesign。
\"Thenputinwhatyouweretoldtowrite；later，ifmadamepersists，theclausecanbestrickenout。\"
Theclerkbowedandlefttheroom。
Whenthetwosisters—in—lawwerealonetogether，Brigittebegan。
\"Ahca！\"shecried，\"haveyoulostyourhead？Whatisthiscrotchetyou’vetakenintoit？\"
\"Itisnotacrotchet；itisafixedidea。\"
\"WhichyougotfromtheAbbeGondrin；youdarenotdenythatyouwenttoseehimwithCeleste。\"
\"ItistruethatCelesteandIsawourdirectorthismorning，butI
didnotopenmylipstohimaboutwhatIintendedtodo。\"
\"So，then，itisinyourownemptyheadthatthisnotionsprouted？\"
\"Yes。AsItoldyouyesterday，IthinkCelestecanbemoresuitablymarried，andmyintentionisnottorobmyselfforamarriageofwhichIdisapprove。\"
\"YOUdisapprove！Uponmyword！arewealltotakemadame’sadvice？\"
\"Iknowwell，\"repliedMadameThuillier，\"thatIcountfornothinginthishouse。SofarasIamconcerned，Ihavelongacceptedmyposition；but，whenthematterconcernsthehappinessofachildI
regardasmyown——\"
\"Parbleu！\"criedBrigitte，\"youneverknewhowtohaveone；for，certainly，Thuillier——\"