The Idol of Paris

gathered together about the round table, on which a white oil cloth bordered with gold

Renaud, brother of Madame Darbois, an honest and able business man; of his son, Maurice Renaud, twenty-two and a painter, a fine youth filled with confidence because of the success he had just achieved at the last S

ured eyes were not large, her nose had no special character; only her sensitive and clear-cut nostrils gave the pretty face its suggestion of ancient lineage. Her mouth was a little large, and her full red lips opened on singularly white teeth as even as almonds; while a low Grecian forehead and a neck graceful in every cu

he waist by a narrow girdle knotted loosely. Although the child was arguing vigorously, with intense animation, there was

arbois, "You are saying to-day just the opposite of w

, dropped hers a little. "Pray Heaven," she was saying

is chair forward; Phi

at his cousin

aying?" asked F

my godfather was against allowing any liberty to women, and he maintained that children have no right to choose

preparation, but Fran?ois Darbois, evidently a little nonpl

you answe

ed: "You said to my godfather, 'My dear Meydieux, you are absolutely mistaken. It is t

tempted to

n it, that grandfather wanted to place

rmured Darbois, wi

to it; I tutored poor students who couldn't get through their examinations, I lived fro

a succession of jerky movements, caught himself squarely on his heels, and then, with great conviction,

e turned

ren should obey

reasoning that she is probably wr

ou must order,

as possible; but when it is a question of their own future, they have a right to present their side of the case. If my uncle Darbois's father had had his

udly, and Esperance looked at her fathe

on, "your uncle might well have made a fortune at mach

"-Madame Darbois s

d his head with her arms. "Oh! yes, very happy," she murmured in a low voic

ur mother concerned only men-now we are considering th

hy

against the struggle, and life

ct is the same for a young

ode, Esperance cried out, "Wait, godfather, you must let me try to convince my parents. Suppos

roof of my parental authority. No, remember this is the second time that you have expressed your will in the matter of the choice of your

what a ho

ligation of answering you definitely; and I have called this family council because I hav

heavy voice, "Yes, Fran?ois, you must try and prevent her from goin

olding herself rigid with her arms hanging straight at her sides. The rose t

ketches of her; never before had h

arents know nothing of life. Fran?ois breathes the ether of a world peopled only by philosophers-whether dead or living, it makes little difference; your mother lives only for you two. I expressed at once my horror at the car

ou speak in this manner of my father, godfather," she said coldly. "My father lives fo

ck, six years ago, papa sent me with Marguerite, our maid, to take a letter to you. I

apa that I will give him all the advice he wants to help him out of this trouble, but it is a principle of mine never to lend money, above all to my goo

son pressed his hand so affectionately unde

father, I have not ca

chair, his tongue dry, his thoughts chaotic, unable to form a reply to the child's virulent attack. For the sake of breaking up thi

air. Her face was very pale and great blue circles had appeared around her eyes. The discussion seem

ack. Her golden hair made an aureola of light aro

ne. Madame Darbois supported Esperance's head, holding a little ether to her nose. As Maurice looked about the little room, as fresh, as white, as the two pots of marguerites on the mantel-shelf, an indefinable s

oved so deeply, so tenderly, she reached out her arms and drew close to her their beloved heads. Mauric

, bending over his little girl. "It is settled, you s

wards him, whispered her reply, "Oh! I thank y