Conscience -- Volume 1

l at work when

ot yet fini

e, a malady that has not yielded to the

inished the letter,

y. What sh

ke things out

ard," she said as

e pockets

l we dine?"

-room is transformed

g a good fire. I wet my fee

whether there

us

igs from India and rabbits for his experiments, and where Joseph heaped pell- mell the things that were in his way, without paying any att

asked, caressing a little pig

the perfumes and tonics,

he office, Saniel

r Saniel told her that the dining-room was uninvi

went and came, walking about with

ing nothing

ing you and

sult of the

r and gayety, an exuberance of life, tha

ing all day long, laughing and joking. He brought me up, and I am like him. Mamma, as you know, is melancholy and nervous, looking on the dark side,

him with a s

for you what I hav

, she immediately endeavored to destroy the impres

ter," she said, "and

ire blazed brightly, lighting the whole ro

doing?" he ask

are not going to sit down at the table

ad it

es de N

de dinde

e foie gras aux tr

is is a

I would offer you

cont

ge de

la creme

de Norm

in

? I do not wish to de

ler at the corner.' And

t to seat hims

ings seriously and methodically we shall not believe in them, and perhaps t

pposite to each other,

you go to the represe

nd

of all, had kept a sober

n; no more cares. Look into my eyes, dear Victor, and think only

over the table, and

ersation to languish. She helped him to each dish, poured out his wine, leaving her chair occasionally to p

xed one moment, was the next clouded by the preoccupation and bittern

little dinner give you

? Wh

hout making mamma uneasy, I shall find

ok his

the whole of next week?"

next week, to-morr

of you. O Victor, have pity!

ing, and not let your tender heart torment

to let me share them with you? You know that I

s position, but he had not entered into details, preferrin

he now told to Phillis, adding what had passed with t

ened, st

ur coat?" s

what he

to-mo

morrow-t

ou have, how did you

a strength that nothing could fatigue, a courage that nothing could, dishearten, I imagined that I was armed for battle

re you to blam

hour has not yet sounded. Because I lack suppleness I have not been able to win the sympathy or interest of my masters. They see only my reserve; and because I stay away from them, as much through timidity as pride, they do not come to me-which is quite natural, I admit. And because I have not yielded my ideas to the authority of others, they have taken a dislike to me, which is still more natural. Because I lack politeness, and am still an Auvergnat, heavy and awkward as nature made me, men of the world disdain me, judging me by my exterior, which they see and dislike. More wary, more sly, more experienced, I should be, at least, sustained by friendship, but I have given no thought to it. What good is it? I had no need of it, my force was sufficient. I find it more easy to make myself feared than loved. Thus formed, there are only two things for me to do: remain in my poor room in the Hotel du Senat, liv

d n