Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

nnce to his will. Like many women of the middling class, Madame
Lescallc was in some respects a tyrant, and in others a
slave. She governed despotically her household, and did not
endure the slightest interference with her authority in domestic
affairs but in important questions, business matters, as M. Lescalle
called them, she was very submisshe to her husband.
She. who would have fought him to the death rather than
change, at his bidding, her laundry arrangements, and resisted
openly any attempt on his part to interfere with the dismissal
or the engagement of a kitchen-maid, trembled at the idea of
opposing him with regard to her daughter's marriage. Such
being the case, the more she reflected, the
felt it to submit.
more incumbent she
Rose, who could not divine what was passing in her mother's
mind, threw her arms round her neck, and implored her to prevent
this new marriage. She spoke with that vehement emo-
tion which a first grief produces in a young heart. Timid as
she was, and unaccustomed to express her feelings, the poor
child used strong and eloquent words. She described the irretrievable
misery of her future life, the hopeless sadness of her
young years. Throwing herself on her mother's breast, she
said:
" O mamma, mamma! do take care. Is it not a sin to marry a
person for whom one feels a deep aversion? It is so dreadful to
think that one will never love one's husband. How can I ever
care for this M. George? If I remain unmarried, at any rate I
can look forward without dread and sorrow to the future! "
Madame Lescalle felt moved by these words. For a moment
the idea crossed her mind that it was wrong to doom her child
to a fate she so much dreaded. She thought also of the possible
dangers and temptations which might be the result of forcing
her into this marriage, and for an instant her heart sank within
her. But this was only a transient feeling. The habitual submission
of the wife triumphed over the mother's anxiety, and
her own worldly nature soon resumed the upper hand.
She kissed her daughter, and, with those fond and caressing
endearments with which people are apt to soothe a grief they
cannot allay, she tried to comfort her in her own way, and to set
before her what she considered herself the great advantages of
the dreaded marriage.
'
Come now, my darling child, you must not make the worst
of it. This marriage, which you dislike so much, has, after all,
some very good sides. The de Vedelles are a nobie and highly
respectable family. The Countess is very good and kind, and
my little girl will enjoy many advantages which are not to be
despised, I can tell you. With twenty-five thousand francs a
year, you will be able to have four servants at least, and to keep
your own carriage. You will be really one of the first ladies in
this neighborhood. Dear me! I should not wonder if you gave
a dinner some day to M. le Prefet when he makes his annual
visit to La Ciotat. And when you go to Toulon and Marseilles
you are sure to be invited to the Prefecture balls. And as to
your dresses, why you will be able to get them from Paris. M.
George will leave you, I am sure, the management of everything.
He is very good and gentle, your father says, and will
not thwart or bother you about your expenses. You will be
mistress in your own house, and I can assure you, Rosy, that
this in itself is worth thinking of. You have no idea what we
women have often to go through with a husband."
Madame Lescalle went on in this strain, dwelling at length on
that last consideration, which had a somewhat practical refer-
ence to her own experience.
All her descriptions of dress, of parties, and of the luxuries of
life fell flatly on her daughter's ears. She made no answer, for
she it'll at that moment that there was nothing in common between
her mother's ideas and her own.
was not romantic or sentimental, but she had, like other
'hcri-hed the hope of a happy marriage, and of being
.ml whom she could love in return, and it was
with bitter regret that she saw herself doomed to give it up.
Aremon P.ielier's familiar and vulgar manners were disagree-
able to her, but not near so much as the prospect of marrying
Tin-: NOTARY'S 25
that strange, uncouth being, George de Vedelles. It never <
her mind, however, that she could refuse to obey her p.
She had been brought up iu llie idea that daugV ;nd to
submit implicitly to paternal authority iu that, as in all other
respects.
In some of the old-fashioned provinces of France, this is still
the common belief. Is this a good or a bad principle? There is
much to be said, perhaps, on both sides of the question.
the strongest advocates of parental authority will admit that
there are cases which warrant a departure from the general rul
of duty. It is, again, a question whether parental authority may
be justifiably exercised, iu any degree, ou this subject. Differ-
ent nations, different families, different individuals, will pronounce
on this point opposite opinions. We shall not allemjit
to discuss the matter; but in France, forty years ago, and
cially in the provinces, there could scarcely have been fonnd an
instance of dissent from the axiom, that a well-principled jrirl was.
bound to accept the husband chosen by her parents. This Rose
had never doubted; and after this short struggle against her
fate, she resigned herself to what she felt to be inevitable.
CHAPTER X.
ANOTHER TRIFLING OBSTACLE.
WHILST the scenes described in the last chapter were taking
place at the Maison Lescalle, something not very dissimilar was
going on in the salon of the Chateau de la Pinede. After his
interview with the notary, M. de Vedelles said to his wife :
"Well, my dear Claire, you will be glad to hear that Jacques
will, in all probability, be a deputy in the next Chamber."
" "
No, really for this department V
"Yes."
" "
What miracle has brought this about?
" A very simple miracle; I will explain it in a moment. But
will it not be delightful to see Jacques at last launched in public
life, and taking part in the affairs of his country? What an
effect he will make at the Tribune, with his gift of speaking and
his good looks! People may say what they like, but a handsome
face and figure are no small advantages for an orator."
" You think only of Jacques, and we really ought to take into
consideration George's future. It is a strange life he leads here.
Your plan of leaving him to himself, the little notice you ever
take of him now, will, I am sure, have bad results."
" You do not, I suppose, wish me to make him a Deputy," the
Count answered in a dry, sarcastic tone.
"No, of course, I do not mean that; but he is getting worse
again, I am afraid, in health, and I do not know what to do, for
it annoys him if I say anything about it."
"Leave him alone, my dear; I have a plan which I will tell
you later. It is time now to go to dinner."
They went into the dining room, where their two son- were
waiting for them; the Countess whispered to her hi.* band:
" How dreadfully pale George looks."
" Oh, it is nothing to signify ; the boy only wants cheering up."
Madame de Vedelles looked surprised, but said nothing mure.
They
all sat down to dinner, and the Count seemed in better
spirits that he had been for a long time.
"
What has been:
the charming Denise?" he said. " It is a longtime since we have
seen her."
" Three weeks," Jacques said. George reddened to the roots
of his hair, and his father glanced at Jacques as much as to say,
" I see you are right in your suspicious;" and then he said, " It
was very pleasant having her here. I was glad to 6'
that you are not quite as unsociable as might be supposed. You
seemed to enjoy Mdile. Dcni. e's Mieiety. Well, it is ve
young people like to meet young people. But I wonder why
you run away when visitors call. Each time that Madam
calle and her daughter have been here, off you go like
wonder at it, for Mdlle. Rose is a remarkably pretty girl."