Serge Panine -- Complete

know in what state of mind her daughter's betrothed had arrived in Paris. Had the letter, which brutal

h must bring about the eviction of the audacious candidate who wished to marry Micheline. If she found hi

t the fleet horse which was drawing her past the long railings of the Tuileries toward the H

sort of a woman I am. He has not risen early enough in the morning to hoodwink me. If

riage s

Delarue?" inqui

t out a quarter

go w

id no

ether he will b

n't k

obli

a minute, she reentered the carriage, and gave orders to return to the Rue Saint-Dominique. If he had gone at once to her house, it wa

wever eager he be, will lose a quarter of an hour in chatting to him. It would be most vexing if he did anything foolish in the remaining fifteen minutes! The fault is mi

rushing to her face. She put her head out of

e fas

l, and in a few minutes reac

d that Delarue had arrived. She hastened to Marechal, and asked him in such a st

drawing-room, calling Pierre in a loud voice. The French window opened, and she found herself face to face with the

e longed to know what had happened dur

ou received on

ichel

feared! What d

ryth

ken place. Madame Desvarennes remained silent for a moment, then, with s

Micheline. You are a man of merit, and you have no relatives. You would not take my daughter away from me; on the contrary I think you like me, an

dly, "it is not my fault that

he Polytechnic School with honors, and with a future open to you like yours, it is not necessary to scour the deserts to dazzle a young girl. One begins by marrying her, and celebrity comes afterward, at the same time as the children. And then there was no need to risk all at such a cost. What, are we then so gran

was with her in the garden. We

not disarrange a fold of his cravat. You know he is a Prince? That is most flattering to the Desvarennes! We shall use his coat-of-arms as our trade

many of his equals. Marriage is to-

ry might be tolerated, but forei

come from Posen-the papers have men

not in his

s exi

something w

his family, fought

is a revo

atri

kind to tell

erre, simply, "but that is no reaso

e. But that does not prove that he will make my daughter happy. And if you

had been forced to act on the defensive for months past pleased her. She thought Pierre argued too much. A woman of

tuation," she said. "The

es him," inter

ica to be present at my daughter's wedding. If you are a man, we shall see some fun. Micheline is your betrothed. You have our word, and the word of a Desvarennes i

ulting Madame Desvarennes. With the help of this energetic woman he might have struggled, whereas left to his own strength, he had

id he. "Micheline asked me to give her

given Micheline back her promise. So be it. But I have not given you back yours. You are pledged to me. I will not countenance the marriage which my daughter has arranged without my consent

struggle? I am b

, what can I do single

daughter's request; but if she comes again beseeching and crying, you who are so strong and can say so well 'I will,' will be weak and wil

had listened to Pie

she said; "you discuss all thi

re, solemnly, "it i

dame Desvarennes, vehemently. "Ah, sch

us in this life-work and pleasure. It is necessary to make a choice, to economize one's time and strength, and to work with either the heart or the brain alone. The result is that the neglected organ wastes away, and that men of pleasure remain all their lives mediocre workers, while hard workers are pitiful

be wheedled by men of pleasure. I never was one of those; and serious as you are, thirty years ago I would h

t is

Micheline. I'll an

es not

s ends by lovi

much to accept her h

red the house with Serge Panine. What could she do? Combat the infatuation of her daughter! She knew that life would be odious for her if Micheline ceased to laugh and to sing. Her daughter's te

will have a sad lot with a fellow of that kind. Well, he had better keep in the right path; for I shall be there to call him to order. Mic

gorous arms with gr

ade miserable through her husband,

instructions to tell Marechal to come down. She thought it would be pleasant for Pierre to pour out his griefs into the heart of his friend. A man weeps with difficulty before a woman, and she guessed that the young man's heart

ng. Then bring Pierre back with yo

line's room, where the latter was waiting