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26 THE DAUGHTER.
V -=. I never saw such a lovely complexion," Jacgucs added.
,':(e a picture of youth, with her fair hair ;uid charm-
;L- li.-cure, her soft large blue eyes, her small hands and
ii-jst
all those durk, sallow Provencales, Mdlle. Les-
calle re;illy looks like a fresh, blooming rose."
'
Well done, Jacques,'' the Count said, laughing. "You have
drawn a very pretty and exact picture of the young lady. And
you, George, what do *
you think of Mdlle. Rose?
George seemed surprised at being asked his opinion, and answered:
" I don't know, I have never looked at her. '
" Well, the next time she comes, look at her."
George seemed quite astonished.
" Yes/' the Count added,
" 1 should like to know your opinion of her.'
" I have no opinion about girls of that age," George replied in
an ungracious manner. "I don't care to make acquaintance
with them they don't care to talk to me, and what does it
or not? '
signify to me whether Rase Lescalle is pretty
The Count and Jacques again glanced at each other. The
Countess was puzzled and did not understand what they were
at. She was singularly matter of fact and had very little penetration.
She did not perceive George's emotion, and only saw
that there was something going
on which she could not make
out, and determined after dinner to ask her husband what it all
meant. In the course of the evening, when they were alone, he
gave her ample explanations, and informed her of his plans for
bth their sons.
" Jaccjues a deputy," he said, " and George married, will be a
happy solution of the anxieties we have felt about both our children.
One of our sons will plunge into the active and brilliant
life that suits his talents, and the other will find a happy destiny
in an ob cure domestic existence, in which his want of capacity
will pass unobserved."
M. id nine deVedelles listened with deep attention to her husband,
and seemed struck by his sagacity and the wisdom of his plans.
" I entirely approve of your intentions, my dear husband," she
said, "only I hope if poor George objected to what you wisely
think would be for his happiness, that you will not make use of
your authority to constrain his will."
"I have neither the intention nor the power of obliging him to
follow my wishes, my dear Claire. My authority can only consist
iu the sort of influence a parent has a right to exercise, and
that influence I must use. George cannot judge for himself as to
what is best for his happiness. He requires to be directed, and
it would be no kindness to leave him to his own foolish devices."
The Countess admitted that this was true, and on the following
day George was summoned to his father's study. The Count
fixed his clear sharp eyes upon him, and in an impressive manner
sai.l:
"My dear son, your mother and I have come to an Important
decision, and though I cannot doubt that you will be ready to
accede to anything which we thought would be for your happiness,
I wish to explain to you the reasons which have led us to
this determination."
"What determination, father?" the young man asked in a
gentle and indifferent manner.
" We are convinced that it is desirable for you to marry."
'
Indeed! and who do you want me to marry? "
George asked
in a voice trembling with anxiety.
" Sit down there and listen to me; you will answer me
afterwards."
George bowed in assent, and i
'leaning against the corner of the
bureau where his father was sitting, rested his head on his hand
and remained motionless. The Count then began to relate the
; which had made him form the plan he had in view: his
conviction that a quiet and retired life of domestic happiness
would suit George far better than any other; the excellent char-
acter he had heard of the youug girl whom he wished him to
marry. and her many attractions, the probability that whereas girls
of a rank equal to his own might object to bury themselves in the
country, which was evidently what his own inclinations pointed
to, Rose Lescalle would be so gratified at an alliance far beyond
what she could have hoped for as to rank and fortune, that she
would fall in readily with all bis wishes. And then he touched
on the subject of Jacques' election. A vague, half unconx-inus
smile hovered on the lips of his son as he did so, and thai the
Count added
" These family considerations would not, of course, have influ
enced me if this project had net helped at once to promote ycur
brother's important interests and to secure your happiness. "
" "
Father, my happiness George began in an eager tone.
M. de Vedelles stopped him.
"
You had promised not to interrupt me: I have not finished
what I had to say to you. I knew what is in your mind, my
dear boy; your mother, your brother, and myself have all guessed
what are your feelings."
" "
Ho you mean George said and hesitated.
"Yes, I know that you are cherishing a foolish dream, a sense-
less hope which can never be realized. Mdlle. de la Pinede has
refused an offer of marriage from your bro'.hcr, whose position
in the world and whose abilities are well known That you are
much too young for her is in itseJf an obstacle, and even if you
ceased to be so hopelessly indolent and gave up your strange ways
of going on, there would not be the least chance of her accepting
you. Jacques' fortune and position did not satisfy Mdlle
Denise's ambition, > you can imagine how utterly impossible
it is that she should think of you. It would be an absurd folly
to persist in such an illusion. You will find in Rose Lescalle a
good wife and charming companion, and once married, or even
engaged to her, you will see how that other fancy will vanish
like a dream."
There was no danger now of George's interrupting his father.
Since the Count had mentioned Denise, his agitation had become
so great that he seemed unable to utter a word. He grew pale
and red, and then pale again, and when his father left off speaking
walked silently towards the door.
"Well, George?" M. de Vedelles said in his sharp, decisive
manner. "Now let me have your answer."
George stopped, seemed to collect his thoughts, and then murmured
something his father could not catch.
" What is it you arc saying?" he asked in an impatient tone,
"Can't you speak?"
George turned back, and laying a cold and heavy hand on his
father's arm, said, " To-morrow, father, I will speak to you."
"And why not at once, my boy?"
" No, to-morrow," George replied again, and left the room.
"Poor fellow," thought Ihe Count, "he actually requires a
whole day to find something to say on the subject. Well, I
must let him have his way."
No one at the chateau knew how George spent that day. In
the evening, as he had not appeared at dimmer, old Vincent, uneasy
at his absence, went and knocked at his door, but without
result. No answer came, and after two or three renewed at-
tempts, he came down, looking very dejected.
"M. George," he snid, "is shut up iu his room, and I cannot
get him to unlock the door."
" Never mind, Vincent," the Count said, " M. George wishes
I know, to spend the day alone; you had better not disturb
him."
On the following morning very early son;s little shepherd boys
who were carrying cheeses to Beausset, suddenly met George
near Cereste, at about two leagues from La Pinede. He was
coming back by the cross-road which led to Toulon. He looked
pale and harassed, and was walking fast, but like a person
dreaming and half unconscious. 1 ne children felt as frightened
as if they had seen a ghost. In the patois of the country they
whispered a few words to each other.
" I say, Jean Baptiste, did you see that man?" the youngest
asked.
" He is not a man," the other gravely answered.
"
I thought it was the young gentleman at La Pinede."
"
Yes; but he is ajhda, and those sort of people are bewitched.
On Saturday nights they hold their meetings ou the lulls, o:
sometimes on the sea-shore. Folks like that, look you, eeem