Fruitfulness

he was very proud. His full limpid eyes, straight nose, and well-shaped if somewhat large mouth had in his younger days given him the reputation of being a hand

"Oh! it's perfect, as you will see. A bedroom for us and another for Reine. An

te without a dowry; and, this accomplished, she indulged in the dream of climbing a little higher up the social ladder, and freeing herself from the loathsome world of petty clerkdom by making the son whom she hoped to have either an advocate or a doctor. Unfortunately the much-desired child proved to be a girl; and Valerie trembled, fearful of finding herself at last with four daughters on her hands, just as her mother had. Her dream thereupon changed, and she resolved to incite her husband onward to the highest po

ith Mathieu along the Boulevard de Grenelle, "it is that new hou

balconies and sculpture work, which looked quite out of plac

in order to please Morange, who the

s on the fifth floor. But that is of no consequence with such a sta

med brightly; there was a carpet on the stairs, and colored glass in the windows. And when, on reaching the fifth sto

und smiling face in a setting of superb hair. She had a full, round bust, and admirable shoulders, of which her husband felt quite proud whenever she showed herself in a lo

as she pressed both Mathieu's hands. "What a pity that Madame Froment coul

you like to glance over our flat while the eggs are being boiled? That will alw

those white lacquered Louis XVI. pieces which makers turn out by the gross. The rosewood piano showed like a big black blot amidst all the rest. Then, overlooking the Boulevard de Grenelle, came Reine's bedroom, pale blue, with furniture of polished pine. Her parents' room, a very small apartment, was at the other end of the flat,

repeated, by way of politeness; "

miliar with the arrangement of the drawing-room, and with the way in which the nicknacks in the bedchamber were set out. And all at once he remembered. Influenced by envy and covert admiration, the Moranges, despite themselves, no doubt, had tried to copy the Beauc

, as he opened the dining-roo

ine one, similar to that obtained from the Beauchene mansion but more extensive, the Seine sh

is magnificent, is it not?" said she; "far better

o understand that he had been invited more particularly to admire the new flat, and these worthy people seemed so delighted to triumph over it before him that he took the matter gayly and without thought of spite. There was no calculating ambition in his nature; he envied nothing of the lu

, Reine, whom she liked to deck out coquettishly, had a frock of blue linen stuff. There was rather too

began with some m

ountry? How funny! I think I should feel dreadfully bored there, for there is too great a lack of amusement

s," and of having been twice invited to dinner by her during the previous winter. She on her side now had a day of her own, Tuesday, and she even gave little private parties, and half ruined herself in providing refreshments at them. As for her acquaintances, she spoke with profound respect of

formerly, did you not? After her marriage, eh? when she became reconciled to her brother and their wretched dis

ughing, observed that they, the Moranges, had but one child, the cashier protested that it was unfair to compare him with M. Beauchene, who was such a wealthy man. Valerie, for her part, pictured the position of her parents, afflicted with four daughters, who had been obliged to wait months and months for boots

a very high position if he will only listen to me. But he must not be saddled with a lot of incum

ed it. Weak and good-natured as he was, Valerie was really the one with will. It wa

know, my dear Froment," said he. "She h

eeking to push the others aside so that he may the more speedily climb a rung of the social ladder. This general ascent, this phenomenon akin to capillarity, is possible only in a country where political equality and economic inequality prevail; for each has the same right to fortune and has but to conquer it. There is, however, a struggle of the vilest egotism, if one wishes to taste the pleasures of the highly placed, pleasures which are displayed to the gaze of all and are eagerly coveted by nearly everybody in the lower spheres. Under a democratic constitution a nation cannot live happily if its manner

neath that envied luxury that is copied at such great cost! All sorts of useless needs are created, and production is turned aside from the strictly necessary. One can no longer express hardship by sayi

range, excited by his good meal, became expansive. Gla

friend; one may t

ave the works. Oh! it's not decided, but I'm thinking of it. Yes, I've been thinking of it for some months past; for, when all is said, to earn

terrupted: "it is like breaking one'

m I had under my orders at the works some six years ago? A very intelligent fellow he was. Well, scarcely six years have elapsed since he lef

ll. The Moranges' eyes dilated with ecsta

elp me on in my turn. Only there's some risk to run. He explained to me that I must at first accept three thousand six hundred, so as to rise gradually t

ing to him. Of course I am in favor of prudence; I would never let him do anything rash which might

made up your mind

at nothing unforeseen occurs. Besides, it is only in October that any situation will be open at the Credit National. But,

at the office. The servant was hurried, the coffee was served, and they were drinking it, boiling hot a

hastily rose, flushed with pride

icent shoulders which were known to all Paris. Her red lips were wreathed in a triumph

o the drawing-room, but I insisted on coming in here, because it is rather a pressing matt

ame la Baronne, you are really too kind! You are spoiling the child. But the fact is that she isn't dressed, and you will have

d made a gesture of surprise on perceiving Mathie

you quite we

ear him he instinctively pushed his chair back.

venturer with a face like an archangel's and the soul of a swindler. The result of the union was a stillborn child. Then Seraphine, who was extremely egotistical and avaricious, quarrelled with her husband and drove him away. He repaired to Berlin, and was killed there in a brawl at a gam

y, are you not?" she asked ag

een there for t

t Madame Seguin's. We are on the best terms possibl

stance, hated her, but with her usual b

ed; "I fancied that she wanted to ask

wife's spoke to her about him. He's a wonderfully clever

nses than one, was likewise partial to glory and proud of accomplishing the most dangerous experiments on the unhappy creatures who fell into his hands. The newspapers were always talking about him, his cures were constantly puffed and advertised by way of in

ce since Gaude had been spoken of. "Ah!" said she; "there's a man, now, who in nowise resembles your squeamish Dr. Boutan, who is always prattling about the birth-rat

r, as Valerie did not return with Reine, he grew impatient, and asked permission to go and s

no longer laughed with the same laugh as a moment previously; an expression of voluptuous irony appeared

l," replie

ldren are st

till gr

e a good paterfamilias

ctly h

more radiant than ever, with the charm of a young sorceress whose eyes burn and poi

ineteen at the time, and she two-and-twenty. He had then but just entered life, and she was already married

he again inquired, s

whose tears would simply have made her laugh. And as Mathieu did not this time give her any answer, even by a wave of

seemed as if all the past were coming back. She almost pressed her lips to his as she whispered that she still loved him; and when he dre

aid she; "the

quite delicious in her frock of rose silk decked with white lace, and her large hat trimmed with

y way of pleasing the parents. "Somebody

es; indeed one regrets it very much when one sees such a treasure as this sweet girl of yours. Ah! if one could only be sure that God

n. How many times during their short and passionate attachment had she not inveighed against childre

xpress their happiness at seeing such coveted wealth and luxury come to seek their daughter. When the

n over and look down. A well-appointed victoria was waiting below with a superb-looking coachman motionless on the box-seat. This sigh

looks! How happy

her head, smiled and bowed. And Seraphine did the same, while the horse broke

till as innocent as a child in her cradle. You know that I trust her to nobody.

e that she will have a carriage when we marry her off. Just let me get

s, and, as I have said before, that is quite enough for a m