Gerfaut -- Volume 2

custom in the country, where they dine in the middle of the day. Gerfaut saw from his chamber, where he had remained like Achi

time Madame de Bergenheim was doing the honors of the house to the matrons, who thought this amusement too youthful for their age and preferred a quiet walk through the park. Christian, on his side, was explaining methods of improvements to gentlemen of

friend's room as the first bell rang for dinner. An enormous green stain

er in his closet. "Which of these rustic beauties has

er caught at it again I'll let you know! Your selfish method is a better, one. By the way, Madame de Berge

ro

han to be obliged to make a declaration to her if she had that impish smile on her lips. She has a way of protruding her under lip-ugh! do you

l to me?" Gerfaut interrupted, with a smi

h a grave countenance, then began

me de Bergenheim asked me a little while ago whether we would be kind enough to sing a few duets? I accepted for us both. I d

a quello

el suo

one from 'Il Barbiere'? altho

but do not split my h

dancing were at the

into the dining- room; it promises to be very fine. Now,

on, and the importations of all kinds which reach the centre from the circumference without having time to spoil on the way, Paris and the rest of France

eim chateau was an example of one of those heterogeneous assemblies which the most exclusive mistress of a mansion can not avoid if she wishes to be neighborly, and in which a duchess may have on her

little qualified to make themselves agreeable in society. So she resolved to extend a general invitation to all those whom she felt obliged to

fore, felt ready to burst with rage. He was seated at the table between two ladies, who seemed to have exhausted, in their toilettes, every color in the solar spectrum, and whose coquettish instincts were aroused by the proximity of a celebrated writer. But their simperings were all lost; the one for whom they were intended b

boorish bearing willingly granted to gentlemen of unquestionable talent. Clemence, on the contrary, seemed to increase in amiability and liveliness. There was not one of her tiresome guests to whom she did not address some pleasant remark,

de Bergenheim, who was somewhat embarrassed as to how to amuse her guests for the remainder of the afternoon, and Marillac, who, with his accustomed enthusiasm, had constituted himself master of ceremonies. A moment later, the drawing-room door opened, and servants appeared

"it is agreed that we shall sing the duet from Mose. There are two or three little boarding-school misses here whose mothers are dying for them to

s in this sheepfold in order to make use of us this evenin

who seem to be terribly attentive to her. After our duet I shall sing the trio from La Date Blanche, with those young ladies who have eyes as round as a fish's, and apricot-colored gowns on- those two over there in the corner, near that p

complai

and roared in his ear the note s

uld not help laughing at the importance th

solo. Two octaves from 'E' to 'E'! Zuchelli was good enough to

ieur," said a servant, who interrup

call from the lady of the house, trying to fix in his mind that run, whi

the corners so that during the execution he might not be stopped by some refractory leaf, coughed in his deep bass voice, placed himself in such a manner as to show the

o his. It was the first glance she had given him that day; from coquetry, perhaps, or because sorrow for her lover had softened her heart, or because she felt remorse for the extreme harshness of her

nd endeavored to smile disdainfully, as

ught beyond his execution, singing, in fact, with the prudence of an amateur who can not spend his time studying runs and chromatic passages four hours daily

her sake, to make more of an effort in her drawing-room, whatever might be their private quarrel; she felt it was a consideration due to her and to which his numerous

irregular and unconnected, he did not acquit himself very badly in the first part. When he reached his final run, he took a long breath, as if it devolved upon him to set in motion all the windmills in Montmartre, and started with a majestic fury; the first forty notes, while they did not resemb

complete state of preservation upon the upper floor, but whose base, worn by

was the rustling of the dilettante's beard, as his chin sought his voice in vain in the depths of his satin cravat, accompanied

growled the artist, whose

g without any new incident,

tone too low," said the bass

so little voice that I am obliged to have my piano tuned to suit it. You c

at a hostess's first duty was to have her piano in tune, and not to expose a b

" asked Gerfaut, as he leaned toward Madame d

ur kindness, Monsieur," said she, in a v

owed and w

er; once or twice she feared her voice would fail her entirely. When she finished, the compliments and applause with which she was overwhlemed seemed so insupportable to her that it was with difficulty she could restrain herself from leaving the room. While exasperated by her weakn

she; "but if he really loved me, he would n

ce as a warrior in the hour of danger, and fall, if necessary, upon the spot, with death in her heart and a smile upon her lips. In order to obey this unwritten law, Madame de Bergenhe

sical, could not understand why one should study music for years if not from love for the art. Christian was fond of his little sister and very proud of her talents. The poor child, whose courage had all disappeared, sang in a fresh, trembling little voice, a romance revised and corrected at her boarding-school. The word love had be

success. Among his talents, Octave possessed in a peculiar degree that of adapting his conversation to the age, position, and character of his companions. Aline listened with unconcealed pleasure to her partner's words; the elasticity of her step and a sort of general trembling made her seem like a flower swayi

he noticed how this fresh, innocent rose bright

her heart, mind, and soul. She would kneel before

tion where Madame de Be

gaze fixed full upon h

spleased, and imperiou

o speak thus to

g over the quadrille, as if it were by mere chance that his eyes had

e medium of the mirror-that so often indiscreet confidant

r seat; "we are jealous. That alters the situation. I know now w

duced to the usual members of the household. Octave entered his room after supper, hum

latter; "you have been as solemn as an owl all day, and now

e vexed t

enjoy b

y mu

playing 'who

ng, I hope to conduct myself in such a disagreeable w

t is a system as good as any other. Wo

de and love on the other, and the feminine balance between them, the odds are that, having moved to the right in a violent manner, it will return none the less energetically to the left; for the longer a vibration h

, since you believe

of tears? I love her, I tell you; I suffer and weep with her. But I love her, and I must make sure of her love. If she will leave but a road full of brambles and sharp s

e some peculiar ideas, it is not my fault. And you, in yo

ral

hose old signs upon which one reads: 'Here, hair is dressed according

ITOR'S B

ll; one is so h

ep for a woman to t

urging, although s

laugh t

modesty de

es never

inable, except whe

that one admits

y people who meet

ying 'who l