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way, it would be out of our road," the other answered in a consequential
tone.
George had passed the two children without noticing them. It
was about six in the morning when he came home. Everybody
was asleep, and he went into his room without any one seeing
him. He did not appear at breakfast, and his father, anxious
not to hurry him. took no notice of his absence. In the meantime
he, his wife, and his eldest son discussed the subject on
which their minds were running. Jacques had set his heart
upon the scheme. His vanity had been wounded by Denise's
refusal, and he was longing to be a Deputy, and to exhibit his
talents as an orator, to rise in public life, and give the young
lady reason to regret that she had declined his offer. Dazzled by
this prospect, and biased by his wishes, he persuaded himself
that George's marriage with the notary's daughter was really the
best thing that could happen to his brother.
As to Madame de Vedelles, she felt some scruples at the idea
of her husband exerting his paternal authority to force this
marriage on George, whether he felt inclined to it or not, and the
more so that she fancied him too timid and too helpless to fight
his own battles. It seemed to her that this would be an abuse
of parental power which her conscience could not sanction.
The more she thought of it the more nervously anxious she became.
Her mother's heart protested against the sort of moral
coercion which she foresaw would be used to overcome any
attempt at resistance on George's part.
The Count himself was not without some uneasiness. In
spite of his strong will, and his conviction that he would be
right in insisting on his spn's complying with his wishes, he
knew that there was a point beyond which he could not go. It
was not in his power to oblige him to obey, and George's silence
and seclusion made him rather afraid that he was preparing a
decided resistance to the proposed marriage.
At one o'clock the door opened, and George came in. His
parents and his brother all felt at that moment a secret agitation.
Jacques looked anxious, M. de Vedolles troubled, and Madame
de Vedelles could hardly restrain her tears.
They had on their side age, authority, conscious superiority
of mind and experience; and yet, perhaps, because of a slight
misgiving that they were not acting in quite a straightforward
and disinterested manner, they seemed embarrassed in the presence
of ons whom they all deemed inferior to themselves in
every respect.
George went up to M. de Vedelles, and said, " My dear father,
I am quite ready to marry the person you wish me to marry."
After he had uttered those few words, it seemed as if he had
exhausted his power of self-command, and sitting down on the
couch near his mother, he hid his face in his hands.
M. de Vedelles breathed freely. To him the relief was great.
Without a struggle, without any exercise of authority, or even
persuasion his object was secured.
" That is right, my dear George," he said. " I felt convinced
that you would be guided by our wishes. "
Jacques was delighted, and going up to his brother warmly
shook his hand. Madame de Vedelles felt a weight on her heart
heavier even than if her son had made some objections, or ex-
1 reluctance to the marriage arranged for him. She made
i her
husband to leave her alone with George, and he and
TlIK NOTARY'S DAUGHTER. 27
very quiet, and keep out of the way of everybody to hide their
wickedness, which is dreadful."
" Are you sure of it?" the little one said, glancing back in
"
affright; "and is the young gentleman really one of them?
"
Thurcsofl has told me so, and she must know, for she says
she has very often met him."
"I dare say she is right, for where could he be coming from
just now, and he walked as fast as if the devil was after him?"
"
Oh, he must have been at the Gorges d'Olliouilles, up there
in the caverns where the witches dance at night."
"
Don't let us go that way, Jean Baptiste; it is not quite light
yet. "
Jacques went into the next room. Then trying to take one of
her son's hands in hers, she said :
" Do you really mean what you say, my dr-ar boy? You have
no dislike to the idea of marrying Mdllr. l,r-sc:i!li-v
"
What a goose you are! Of course we are not going that
"
George did not answer.
"
Because," his mother added with a trembling voice for her
fear of her husband's displeasure made her very nervous. though,
it did not prevent her from doing her "
duty if you hate the
thought of this marriage, you must say so, dear child. We cannot
wish to forward your brother's interests at the expense of
your happiness. Come, tell me the truth, my dear George. Is
it fear of your father that makes you agree to marry this young
girl?"
"No, mother, it is not fear that influences me. Under
other circumstances I should have refused my consent to this
arrangement."
" Oh, I am glad to hear that, my dear boy. Then you have
not any dislike to Rose Lescalle? You do not know her much,
but I am sure you must think her pleasing don't you?''
" I have never thought whether she is pleasing or not ; I marry
her because you are all bent upon it. I may as well do that as
anything else. You wish me to marry, and I don't care whom
I marry."
"
Well, I could not have imagined that you could be ns indif-
ferent as that, George, on such a subject. Have yon ever
thought about it? I do not mean to say that in order to be
happy together people need to be what is called in love with
each other; but marriage is a very serious thing, and we ought
not to feel a distaste for the person who is to be our companion
for life. I want you to consider the question well, and not to
act in this important matter with your usual thoughtlessness.
Try to attend to what I say. You look unhappy. Do tell me
the truth, George."
"All I can tell you, mother, is, that I have no dislike to that
young girl. You have all agreed that I had better marry, so that
if I refused to comply with my father's wishes in this case, he
would soon be proposing somebody else to me. It is better to
agree at once to what he wishes, and not vex him and my brother
about it. Oh, my head aches dreadfully, and I cannot go on
arguing on this subject. I have never gone against my father's
will, much as I have often displeased and irritated him. He is
determined I shall marry, and as he has chosen a wife for me,
so let it be; only, please do not let us talk any more about it."
Madame de Vedelles felt sad and anxious, but said nothing
more, and George felt her.
She then went into the garden, where her husband and Jacques
were strolling.
The latter came to meet his mother, and kissing
her, said:
"Well, dear mother, how smoothly it is all going on how
obedient the dear fellow is. I suspect that at the bottom of his
heart he is very much pleased."
"No, Jacques, I don't think so. He is very unhappy, and, I
am afraid, very ill. I cannot get him to speak sensibly on the
subject. He says he has no objection to this marriage, and yet
he seems wretchedly out of spirits. But I don't think you guessed
right about Denise. He never mentioned her name, did not even
allude to her. His apathy is just what it has been all along, only
he is much more depressed that he used to be."
" You will conjure up fears and miseries," the Count exclaimed.
"The companionship of a charming young wife, and the new
interests of a home of his own, will rouse him out of this morbid
state of mind."
"I have never seen him look so miserable as he does to-day."
"My dear mother," Jacques said. " you will not see things as
they are. He has, I have no doubt, some trouble to give up his
dream of the last two months, and instead of worshipping the
dark goddess at Toulon, to do homage to the fair lieauty of La
Ciotat. But depend upon it. the struggle will be short. Little
Rose is charming, and I bet you anything that in a short time he
will be enchanted with his destiny."
"God grant that you may be a true prophet," Madame de
Vedelles said with a sigh.