Madame de Mauves

ral invitation. The sacrifice cost him a great effort, for hopeless passions are exactly not the most patient; and he had moreover a constant fear that if, as he be

ose to employ. Her means, he kept repeating, were no business of his, and the essence of his admiration ought to be to allow her to do as she liked; but he felt as if he should turn

de Mauves would renew with him for an hour or two the exploration of the forest. Her sister-in-law, however, whose hair was not yet dressed, emerged like a brassy discord in a maze of melody. At the same moment the servant returned with his mistress's regrets; she begged to be excused, she was indisposed and unable to s

for once. You were not at all polite the other day when I as

lk about," he returned

it. That was not an idle question of mine; I don't ask idle questions. For a couple of months now

very well treated," h

ittle to bring out: "Have you

him feel that even to understand her would savour of dishonest compli

vulgar gossip. "I might tell you, monsieur," she returned, "that you've as bad a ton as any young man I ever met. Where have you lived-what are your ideas? A stupid one of my own-p

re made shor

nly. "You've formed, I suppose," she nevertheless contin

rounds-or at least a specimen or two of

mong us, I fear, who has not given his wife, even when she was very charming, the right to be jealous. We know our history for ages back, and the fact's established. It's not a very edifying one if you like, but it's something to have scandals with pedigrees-if you can't have them with attenuations. Our men have been Frenchmen of France, and their wives-I may say it-have been of no meaner blood. You may see all their portraits at our poor charming old house-every one of them an 'injured' beauty, but not one of them hanging her head. Not one of them ever had the bad taste to be jealous, and yet not one in a dozen ever consented to an indiscretion-allowed herself, I mean, to be talked about. Voila comme elles ont su s'arranger. How they did it-go and look at the dusky faded canvases and pastels and ask. They were dear brave women of wit. When they had a headache they put on a little rouge and

accept it as the last word either of taste or of tact. When a woman with her prettiness lets her husband stray away she deserves no small part of her fate. I don't wish you to agree with me-on the contrary; but I call such a woman a pure noodle. She must have bored him to death. What has passed between them for many months needn't concern us; what provocation my sister has had-monstrous, if you wish-what ennui my brother has suffered. It's enoug

his elbows on his knees, and now, impulsively, he d

adame Clairin.

es and forgetting the spirit of the story to which he

e always been capable of ideas. I want to arrange things; to see my brother

"You're the most immoral person I've lat

. "Possibly. When was ever a

rficial to be a great peacemaker. You don't b

tor in view; she mused a moment and then smiled as with a certain c

resolutely returned, "what honest men most admir

moment. "So you ARE in love!" s

if you'd understand me," he said at last, "if I were to tell you that I h

case you ought to exert your influence to

to me about her domestic

t to be, but he wouldn't be my brother if he weren't. It was this irregular passion that dictated his words. 'Listen to me, madam,' he cried at last; 'let us live like people who understand life! It's unpleasant to be forced to say such things outright, but you've a way of bringing one down to the rudiments. I'm faithless, I'm heartless, I'm brutal, I'm everything horrible-it's understood. Take your revenge, console yourself: you're too charming a woman to have anything to complain of. Here's a handsome young man sighing himself into a consumption for you. Listen to y

ace to face, as you say it to m

d with the most p

e Mauves-what

day before. He came in with the gravity of an ambassador, and I'm sure that when he made his demande en mariage his manner wasn't more respectful. He only wanted white gloves!" said Lo

peated, "it was just wh

ith my brother, do y

shook h

ujet!" he

own affair. But you may confide in my discretion.' Do you think he has had reason to complain of it?" She received no answer; her visitor had sl

g that left her more puzzled than satisfied in the colourless tone with which he answered, "No, I shall remain here for the present." The processes of his mi

take care of itself. Meanwhile I shall take the liberty of telling m

ng quietly enough. "Tell her what you please. No

your own opportunity!" she went on. "But for heaven's sake, if it is to lead anywhere, don't come back with that visage de croquemort. You look as if

dn't change. "I shall do myself justice," he however after an ins