第61章

"Of course I was very young.He was received very well in our monde.""Not better than Mr.Newman," said Madame de Bellegarde.

"I beg he will offer his arm into the other room.

I could have offered no higher privilege to Dr.Franklin."Newman, complying with Madame de Bellegarde's request, perceived that her two sons had returned to the drawing-room.He scanned their faces an instant for traces of the scene that had followed his separation from them, but the marquise seemed neither more nor less frigidly grand than usual, and Valentin was kissing ladies'

hands with at least his habitual air of self-abandonment to the act.

Madame de Bellegarde gave a glance at her eldest son, and by the time she had crossed the threshold of her boudoir he was at her side.

The room was now empty and offered a sufficient degree of privacy.

The old lady disengaged herself from Newman's arm and rested her hand on the arm of the marquis; and in this position she stood a moment, holding her head high and biting her small under-lip.I am afraid the picture was lost upon Newman, but Madame de Bellegarde was, in fact, at this moment a striking image of the dignity which--even in the case of a little time-shrunken old lady--may reside in the habit of unquestioned authority and the absoluteness of a social theory favorable to yourself.

"My son has spoken to you as I desired," she said, "and you understand that we shall not interfere.The rest will lie with yourself.""M.de Bellegarde told me several things I didn't understand,"said Newman, "but I made out that.You will leave me open field.

I am much obliged."

"I wish to add a word that my son probably did not feel at liberty to say,"the marquise rejoined."I must say it for my own peace of mind.

We are stretching a point; we are doing you a great favor.""Oh, your son said it very well; didn't you?" said Newman.

"Not so well as my mother," declared the marquis.

"I can only repeat--I am much obliged."

"It is proper I should tell you," Madame de Bellegarde went on, "that I am very proud, and that I hold my head very high.

I may be wrong, but I am too old to change.

At least I know it, and I don't pretend to anything else.

Don't flatter yourself that my daughter is not proud.

She is proud in her own way--a somewhat different way from mine.

You will have to make your terms with that.Even Valentin is proud, if you touch the right spot--or the wrong one.

Urbain is proud; that you see for yourself.Sometimes Ithink he is a little too proud; but I wouldn't change him.

He is the best of my children; he cleaves to his old mother.

But I have said enough to show you that we are all proud together.

It is well that you should know the sort of people you have come among.""Well," said Newman, "I can only say, in return, that I am NOT proud;I shan't mind you! But you speak as if you intended to be very disagreeable.""I shall not enjoy having my daughter marry you, and I shall not pretend to enjoy it.If you don't mind that, so much the better.""If you stick to your own side of the contract we shall not quarrel; that is all I ask of you," said Newman.

"Keep your hands off, and give me an open field.

I am very much in earnest, and there is not the slightest danger of my getting discouraged or backing out.

You will have me constantly before your eyes; if you don't like it, I am sorry for you.I will do for your daughter, if she will accept me everything that a man can do for a woman.

I am happy to tell you that, as a promise--a pledge.

I consider that on your side you make me an equal pledge.

You will not back out, eh?"

"I don't know what you mean by 'backing out,' " said the marquise.