"Haveyouobtainedthecrossforme？"hecried，onreceivingaglancefromTheodose，andwishingtoprovethathewasnotwithoutcraft。
"Youwilldoubtlessreceiveiterelong，"repliedthemayor。"Butthematternowrelatestosomethingbetterthanthat。Thecrossisafavorduetothegoodopinionofaminister，whereasthepresentquestionconcernsanelectionduetotheconsentofyourfellowcitizens。Inaword，asufficientlylargenumberofelectorsinyourarrondissementhavecasttheireyesuponyou，andwishtohonoryouwiththeirconfidencebymakingyoutherepresentativeofthisarrondissementinthemunicipalcouncilofParis；which，aseverybodyknows，istheCouncil—generaloftheSeine。"
"Bravo！"criedDutocq。
Phellionrose。
"Monsieurlemairehasforestalledme，"hesaidinanagitatedvoice，"butitissoflatteringforourfriendtobetheobjectofeagernessonthepartofallgoodcitizens，andtoobtainthepublicvoteofhighandlow，thatIcannotcomplainofbeingobligedtocomesecondonly；therefore，allhonortotheinitiatoryauthority！"（HerehebowedrespectfullytoMinard。）"Yes，MonsieurThuillier，manyelectorsthinkofgivingyoutheirvotesinthatportionofthearrondissementwhereIkeepmyhumblepenates；andyouhavethespecialadvantageofbeingsuggestedtotheirmindsbyadistinguishedman。"（Sensation。）
"Byamaninwhosepersonwedesiredtohonoroneofthemostvirtuousinhabitantsofthearrondissement，whofortwentyyears，Imaysay，wasthefatherofit。IalludetothelateMonsieurPopinot，counsellor，duringhislifetime，totheRoyalcourt，andourdelegateinthemunicipalcouncilofParis。Buthisnephew，ofwhomIspeak，DoctorBianchon，oneofourglories，has，inviewofhisabsorbingduties，declinedtheresponsibilitywithwhichwesoughttoinvesthim。Whilethankingusforourcomplimenthehas——takenoteofthis——indicatedforoursuffragesthecandidateofMonsieurlemaireasbeing，inhisopinion，capable，owingtothepositionheformerlyoccupied，ofexercisingthemagisterialfunctionsoftheaedileship。"
AndPhellionsatdownamidapprovingmurmurs。
"Thuillier，youcancountonme，youroldfriend，"saidColleville。
AtthismomenttheguestsweresincerelytouchedbythesightpresentedofoldMademoiselleBrigitteandMadameThuillier。Brigitte，paleasthoughshewerefainting，waslettingtheslowtearsrun，unheeded，downhercheeks，tearsofdeepestjoy；whileMadameThuilliersat，asifstruckbylightning，withhereyesfixed。
Suddenlytheoldmaiddartedintothekitchen，cryingouttoJosephinethecook：——
"Comeintothecellarmygirl，wemustgetoutthewinebehindthewood！"
"Myfriends，"saidThuillier，inashakingvoice，"thisisthefinestmomentofmylife，finerthaneventhedayofmyelection，shouldI
consenttoallowmyselftobepresentedtothesuffragesofmyfellow—
citizens"（"Youmust！youmust！"）；"forIfeelmyselfmuchworndownbythirtyyearsofpublicservice，and，asyoumaywellbelieve，amanofhonorhasneedtoconsulthisstrengthandhiscapacitiesbeforehetakesuponhimselfthefunctionsoftheaedileship。"
"Iexpectednothinglessofyou，MonsieurThuillier，"criedPhellion。
"Pardonme；thisisthefirsttimeinmylifethatIhaveeverinterruptedasuperior；buttherearecircumstances——"
"Accept！accept！"criedZelie。"Blessmysoul！whatwewantaremenlikeyoutogovernus。"
"Resignyourself，mychief！"criedDutocq，and，"Longlivethefuturemunicipalcouncillor！butwehaven’tanythingtodrink——"
"Well，thethingissettled，"saidMinard；"youaretobeourcandidate。"
"Youthinktoomuchofme，"repliedThuillier。
"Come，come！"criedColleville。"Amanwhohasdonethirtyyearsinthegalleysoftheministryoffinanceisatreasuretothetown。"
"Youaremuchtoomodest，"saidtheyoungerMinard；"yourcapacityiswellknowntous；itremainsatraditionattheministryoffinance。"
"Asyouallinsist——"beganThuillier。
"TheKingwillbepleasedwithourchoice；Icanassureyouofthat，"
saidMinard，pompously。
"Gentlemen，"saidlaPeyrade，"willyoupermitarecentdwellerinthefaubourgSaint—Jacquestomakeonelittleremark，whichisnotwithoutimportance？"
Theconsciousnessthateverybodyhadofthesterlingmeritsoftheadvocateofthepoorproducedthedeepestsilence。
"TheinfluenceofMonsieurlemaireofanadjoiningarrondissement，whichisimmenseinourswherehehasleftsuchexcellentmemories；
thatofMonsieurPhellion，theoracle——yes，letthetruthbespoken，"
heexclaimed，noticingagesturemadebyPhellion——"theORACLEofhisbattalion；theinfluence，nolesspowerful，whichMonsieurCollevilleowestothefrankheartinessofhismanner，andtohisurbanity；thatofMonsieurDutocq，theclerkofthejusticecourt，whichwillnotbelessefficacious，Iamsure；andthepooreffortswhichIcanofferinmyhumblesphereofactivity，——arepledgesofsuccess，buttheyarenotsuccessitself。Toobtainarapidtriumphweshouldpledgeourselves，nowandhere，tokeepthedeepestsecrecyonthemanifestationofsentimentswhichhasjusttakenplace。Otherwise，weshouldexcite，withoutknowingorwillingit，envyandalltheothersecondarypassions，whichwouldcreateforuslatervariousobstaclestoovercome。Thepoliticalmeaningofthenewsocialorganization，itsverybasis，itstoken，andtheguaranteeforitscontinuance，areinacertainsharingofthegoverningpowerwiththemiddleclasses，classeswhoarethetruestrengthofmodernsocieties，thecentreofmorality，ofallgoodsentimentsandintelligentwork。Butwecannotconcealfromourselvesthattheprincipleofelection，extendednowtoalmosteveryfunction，hasbroughttheinterestsofambition，andthepassionforbeingSOMETHING，excusetheword，intosocialdepthswheretheyoughtnevertohavepenetrated。Someseegoodinthis；othersseeevil；itisnotmyplacetojudgebetweentheminpresenceofmindsbeforewhoseeminenceIbow。Icontentmyselfbysimplysuggestingthisquestioninordertoshowthedangerswhichthebannerofourfriendmustmeet。Seeforyourselves！thedeceaseofourlatehonorablerepresentativeinthemunicipalcouncildatesbackscarcelyoneweek，andalreadythearrondissementisbeingcanvassedbyinferiorambitions。Suchmenputthemselvesforwardtobeseenatanyprice。Thewritofconvocationwill，probably，nottakeeffectforamonthtocome。Betweennowandthen，imaginetheintrigues！IentreatyounottoexposeourfriendThuilliertotheblowsofhiscompetitors；letusnotdeliverhimovertopublicdiscussion，thatmodernharpywhichisbutthetrumpetofenvyandcalumny，thepretextseizedbymalevolencetobelittleallthatisgreat，soilallthatisimmaculateanddishonorwhateverissacred。Letus，rather，doastheThirdPartyisnowdoingintheChamber，——keepsilenceandvote！"
"Hespeakswell，"saidPhelliontohisneighborDutocq。
"Andhowstrongthestatementis！"
EnvyhadturnedMinardandhissongreenandyellow。
"Thatiswellsaidandverytrue，"remarkedMinard。
"Unanimouslyadopted！"criedColleville。"Messieurs，wearemenofhonor；itsufficestounderstandeachotheronthispoint。"
"Whosodesirestheendacceptsthemeans，"saidPhellion，emphatically。
Atthismoment，MademoiselleThuillierreappeared，followedbyhertwoservants；thekeyofthecellarwashangingfromherbelt，andthreebottlesofchampagne，threeofhermitage，andonebottleofmalagawereplaceduponthetable。Sheherselfwascarrying，withalmostrespectfulcare，asmallerbottle，likeafairyCarabosse，whichsheplacedbeforeher。Inthemidstofthehilaritycausedbythisabundanceofexcellentthings——afruitofgratitude，whichthepoorspinsterinthedeliriumofherjoypouredoutwithaprofusionwhichputtoshamethesparinghospitalityofherusualfortnightlydinners——numerousdessertdishesmadetheirappearance：moundsofalmonds，raisins，figs，andnuts（popularlyknownasthe"fourbeggars"），pyramidsoforanges，confections，crystallizedfruits，broughtfromthehiddendepthsofhercupboards，whichwouldneverhavefiguredonthetable—clothhaditnotbeenforthe"candidacy。"
"Celeste，theywillbringyouabottleofbrandywhichmyfatherobtainedin1802；makeanorange—salad！"criedBrigittetohersister—
in—law。"MonsieurPhellion，openthechampagne；thatbottleisforyouthree。MonsieurDutocq，takethisone。MonsieurColleville，youknowhowtopopcorks！"
Thetwomaidsdistributedchampagneglasses，alsoclaretglasses，andwineglasses。JosephinealsobroughtthreemorebottlesofBordeaux。
"Theyearofthecomet！"criedThuillier，laughing，"Messieurs，youhaveturnedmysister’shead。"
"Andthiseveningyoushallhavepunchandcakes，"shesaid。"Ihavesenttothechemistsforsometea。Heavens！ifIhadonlyknowntheaffairconcernedanelection，"shecried，lookingathersister—in—
law，"I’dhaveservedtheturkey。"
Agenerallaughwelcomedthisspeech。
"Wehaveagoose！"saidMinardjunior。
"Thecartsareunloading！"criedMadameThuillier，as"marronsglaces"
and"meringues"wereplaceduponthetable。
MademoiselleThuillier’sfacewasblazing。Shewasreallysuperbtobehold。Neverdidsisterlyloveassumesuchafrenziedexpression。
"Tothosewhoknowher，itisreallytouching，"remarkedMadameColleville。
Theglasseswerefilled。Theguestsalllookedatoneanother，evidentlyexpectingatoast，whereuponlaPeyradesaid：——
"Messieurs，letusdrinktosomethingsublime。"
Everybodylookedcurious。
"ToMademoiselleBrigitte！"
Theyallrose，clinkedglasses，andcriedwithonevoice，"MademoiselleBrigitte！"somuchenthusiasmdidtheexhibitionofatruefeelingexcite。
"Messieurs，"saidPhellion，readingfromapaperwritteninpencil，"Toworkanditssplendors，inthepersonofourformercomrade，nowbecomeoneofthemayorsofParis，——toMonsieurMinardandhiswife！"
Afterfiveminutes’generalconversationThuillierroseandsaid：——
"Messieurs，TotheKingandtheroyalfamily！Iaddnothing；thetoastsaysall。"
"Totheelectionofmybrother！"saidMademoiselleThuillieramomentlater。
"NowI’llmakeyoulaugh，"whisperedlaPeyradeinFlavie’sear。
Andherose。
"ToWoman！"hesaid；"thatenchantingsextowhomweoweourhappiness，——nottospeakofourmothers，oursisters，andourwives！"
Thistoastexcitedgeneralhilarity，andColleville，alreadysomewhatgay，exclaimed：——
"Rascal！youhavestolenmyspeech！"
Themayorthenrose；profoundsilencereigned。
"Messieurs，ourinstitutions！fromwhichcomethestrengthandgrandeurofdynasticFrance！"
Thebottlesdisappearedamidachorusofadmirationastothemarvellousgoodnessanddelicacyoftheircontents。
CelesteCollevilleheresaidtimidly：——
"Mamma，willyoupermitmetogiveatoast？"
Thegoodgirlhadnoticedthedull，bewilderedlookofhergodmother，neglectedandforgotten，——she，themistressofthathouse，wearingalmosttheexpressionofadogthatisdoubtfulwhichmastertoobey，lookingfromthefaceofherterriblesister—in—lawtothatofThuillier，consultingeachcountenance，andobliviousofherself；butjoyonthefaceofthatpoorhelot，accustomedtobenothing，torepressherideas，herfeelings，hadtheeffectofapalewintrysunbehindamist；itbarelylightedherfaded，flabbyflesh。Thegauzecaptrimmedwithdingyflowers，thehairill—dressed，thegloomybrowngown，withnoornamentbutathickgoldchain——all，combinedwiththeexpressionofhercountenance，stimulatedtheaffectionoftheyoungCeleste，who——aloneintheworld——knewthevalueofthatwomancondemnedtosilencebutawareofallabouther，sufferingfromallyetconsolingherselfinGodandinthegirlwhonowwaswatchingher。
"Yes，letthedearchildgiveusherlittletoast，"saidlaPeyradetoMadameColleville。
"Goon，mydaughter，"criedColleville；"here’sthehermitagestilltobedrunk——andit’shoarywithage，"headded。
"Tomykindgodmother！"saidthegirl，loweringherglassrespectfullybeforeMadameThuillier，andholdingittowardsher。
Thepoorwoman，startled，lookedthroughaveiloftearsfirstatherhusband，andthenatBrigitte；butherpositioninthefamilywassowellknown，andthehomagepaidbyinnocencetoweaknesshadsomethingsobeautifulaboutit，thattheemotionwasgeneral；themenallroseandbowedtoMadameThuillier。
"Ah！Celeste，IwouldIhadakingdomtolayatyourfeet，"murmuredFelixPhellion。
TheworthyPhellionwipedawayatear。Dutocqhimselfwasmoved。
"Oh！thecharmingchild！"criedMademoiselleThuillier，rising，andgoingroundtokisshersister—in—law。
"Myturnnow！"saidColleville，posinglikeanathlete。"Nowlisten：
Tofriendship！Emptyyourglasses；refillyourglasses。Good！Tothefinearts，——theflowerofsociallife！Emptyyourglasses；refillyourglasses。Toanothersuchfestivalonthedayafterelection！"
"Whatisthatlittlebottleyouhavethere？"saidDutocqtoMademoiselleThuillier。
"That，"shesaid，"isoneofmythreebottlesofMadameAmphoux’
liqueur；thesecondisforthedayofCeleste’smarriage；thethirdforthedayonwhichherfirstchildisbaptized。"
"Mysisterislosingherhead，"remarkedThuilliertoColleville。
Thedinnerendedwithatoast，offeredbyThuillier，butsuggestedtohimbyTheodoseatthemomentwhenthemalagasparkledinthelittleglasseslikesomanyrubies。
"Colleville，messieurs，hasdrunktoFRIENDSHIP。Inowdrink，inthismostgenerouswine，Tomyfriends！"
Anhurrah，fullofheartiness，greetedthatfinesentiment，butDutocqremarkedasidetoTheodose：——
"Itisashametopoursuchwinedownthethroatsofsuchpeople。"
"Ah！ifwecouldonlymakesuchwineasthat！"criedZelie，makingherglassringbythewayinwhichshesuckeddowntheSpanishliquid。
"Whatfortuneswecouldget！"
Zeliehadnowreachedherhighestpointofincandescence，andwasreallyalarming。
"Yes，"repliedMinard，"butoursismade。"
"Don’tyouthink，sister，"saidBrigittetoMadameThuillier，"thatwehadbettertakecoffeeinthesalon？"
MadameThuillierobedientlyassumedtheairofmistressofthehouse，androse。
"Ah！youareagreatwizard，"saidFlavieColleville，acceptinglaPeyrade’sarmtoreturntothesalon。
"AndyetIcareonlytobewitchyou，"heanswered。"Ithinkyoumoreenchantingthaneverthisevening。"
"Thuillier，"shesaid，toevadethesubject，"Thuilliermadetothinkhimselfapoliticalcharacter！oh！oh！"
"But，mydearFlavie，halftheabsurditiesoflifearetheresultofsuchconspiracies；andmenarenotaloneinthesedeceptions。Inhowmanyfamiliesoneseesthehusband，children，andfriendspersuadingasillymotherthatsheisawomanofsense，oranoldwomanoffiftythatsheisyoungandbeautiful。Hence，inconceivablecontrarietiesforthosewhogoabouttheworldwiththeireyesshut。Onemanoweshisill—savoredconceittotheflatteryofamistress；anotheroweshisversifyingvanitytothosewhoarepaidtocallhimagreatpoet。
Everyfamilyhasitsgreatman；andtheresultis，asweseeitintheChamber，generalobscurityofthelightsofFrance。Well，menofrealmindarelaughingtothemselvesaboutit，that’sall。Youarethemindandthebeautyofthislittlecircleofthepettybourgeoisie；itisthissuperioritywhichledmeinthefirstinstancetoworshipyou。I
havesincelongedtodragyououtofit；forIloveyousincerely——
moreinfriendshipthaninlove；thoughagreatdealofloveisglidingintoit，"headded，pressinghertohisheartundercoveroftherecessofawindowtowhichhehadtakenher。
"MadamePhellionwillplaythepiano，"criedColleville。"Wemustalldanceto—night——bottlesandBrigitte’sfrancsandallthelittlegirls！I’llgoandfetchmyclarionet。"
Hegavehisemptycoffee—cuptohiswife，smilingtoseehersofriendlywithlaPeyrade。
"Whathaveyousaidanddonetomyhusband？"askedFlavie，whenCollevillehadleftthem。
"MustItellyoualloursecrets？"
"Ah！youdon’tloveme，"shereplied，lookingathimwiththecoquettishslynessofawomanwhoisnotquitedecidedinhermind。
"Well，sinceyoutellmeyours，"hesaid，lettinghimselfgotothelivelyimpulseofProvencalgaiety，alwayssocharmingandapparentlysonatural，"Iwillnotconcealfromyouananxietyinmyheart。"
Hetookherbacktothesamewindowandsaid，smiling：——
"Colleville，poorman，hasseeninmetheartistrepressedbyallthesebourgeois；silentbeforethembecauseIfeelmisjudged，misunderstood，andrepelledbythem。Hehasfelttheheatofthesacredfirethatconsumesme。YesIam，"hecontinued，inatoneofconviction，"anartistinwordsafterthemannerofBerryer；Icouldmakejuriesweep，byweepingmyself，forI’masnervousasawoman。
Yourhusband，whodeteststhebourgeoisie，begantoteasemeaboutthem。Atfirstwelaughed；then，inbecomingserious，hefoundoutthatIwasasstrongashe。ItoldhimoftheplanconcoctedtomakeSOMETHINGofThuillier，andIshowedhimallthegoodhecouldgethimselfoutofapoliticalpuppet。’Ifitwereonly，’Isaidtohim，’tomakeyourselfMonsieurDEColleville，andtoputyourcharmingwifewhereIshouldliketoseeher，asthewifeofareceiver—
general，ordeputy。Tomakeyourselfallthatyouandsheoughttobe，youhaveonlytogoandliveafewyearsintheUpperorLowerAlps，insomeholeofatownwhereeverybodywilllikeyou，andyourwifewillseduceeverybody；andthis，’Iadded，’youcannotfailtoobtain，especiallyifyougiveyourdearCelestetosomemanwhocaninfluencetheChamber。’Goodreasons，statedinjest，havethemeritofpenetratingdeeperintosomemindsthaniftheyweregivensoberly。SoCollevilleandIbecamethebestfriendsintheworld。Didn’tyouhearhimsaytomeattable，’Rascal！youhavestolenmyspeech’？To—nightweshallbetheeingandthouingeachother。Iintendtohaveachoicelittlesupper—partysoon，whereartists，tiedtotheproprietiesathome，alwayscompromisethemselves。I’llinvitehim，andthatwillmakeusassolidlygoodfriendsasheiswithThuillier。There，mydearadornedone，iswhataprofoundsentimentgivesamanthecouragetoproduce。Collevillemustadoptme；sothatImayvisityourhousebyhisinvitation。Butwhatcouldn’tyoumakemedo？licklepers，swallowlivetoads，seduceBrigitte——yes，ifyousayso，I’llimpalemyownheartonthatgreatpicket—railtopleaseyou。"
"Youfrightenedmethismorning，"shesaid。
"Butthiseveningyouarereassured。Yes，"headded，"noharmwilleverhappentoyouthroughme。"
"Youare，Imustacknowledge，amostextraordinaryman。"
"Why，no！thesmallestaswellasthegreatestofmyeffortsaremerelythereflectionsoftheflamewhichyouhavekindled。Iintendtobeyourson—in—lawthatwemayneverpart。Mywife，heavens！whatcouldshebetomebutamachineforchild—bearing？whereasthedivinity，thesublimebeingwillbe——you，"hewhisperedinherear。
"YouareSatan！"shesaid，inasortofterror。
"No，Iamsomethingofapoet，likeallthemenofmyregion。Come，bemyJosephine！I’llgoandseeyouto—morrow。Ihavethemostardentdesiretoseewhereyouliveandhowyoulive，thefurnitureyouuse，thecolorofyourstuffs，thearrangementofallthingsaboutyou。I
longtoseethepearlinitsshell。"
Heslippedawaycleverlyafterthesewords，withoutwaitingforananswer。
Flavie，towhominallherlifelovehadnevertakenthelanguageofromance，satstill，buthappy，herheartpalpitating，andsayingtoherselfthatitwasverydifficulttoescapesuchinfluence。ForthefirsttimeTheodosehadappearedinapairofnewtrousers，withgraysilkstockingsandpumps，awaistcoatofblacksilk，andacravatofblacksatinontheknotofwhichshoneaplaingoldpinselectedwithtaste。Heworealsoanewcoatinthelastfashion，andyellowgloves，relievedbywhiteshirt—cuffs；hewastheonlymanwhohadmanners，ordeportmentinthatsalon，whichwasnowfillingupfortheevening。
MadamePron，neeBarniol，arrivedwithtwoschool—girls，agedseventeen，confidedtohermaternalcarebyfamiliesresidinginMartinique。MonsieurPron，professorofrhetoricinacollegepresidedoverbypriests，belongedtothePhellionclass；but，insteadofexpandingonthesurfaceinphrasesanddemonstrations，andposingasanexample，hewasdryandsententious。MonsieurandMadamePron，theflowersofthePhellionsalon，receivedeveryMonday。Thoughaprofessor，thelittlemandanced。HeenjoyedgreatinfluenceinthequarterenclosedbytheboulevardduMont—Parnasse，theLuxembourg，andtheruedeSevres。Therefore，assoonasPhellionsawhisfriend，hetookhimbythearmintoacornertoinformhimoftheThuilliercandidacy。Aftertenminutes’consultationtheybothwenttofindThuillier，andtherecessofawindow，oppositetothatwhereFlaviestillsatabsorbedinherreflections，nodoubt，hearda"trio"
worthy，initsway，ofthatoftheSwissin"GuillaumeTell。"
"Doyousee，"saidTheodose，returningtoFlavie，"thepureandhonestPhellionintriguingoverthere？Giveapersonalreasontoavirtuousmanandhe’llpaddleintheslimiestpuddle；heishookingthatlittlePron，andPronistakingitallin，solelytogetyourlittleCelesteforFelixPhellion。Separatethem，andintenminutesthey’llgettogetheragain，andthatyoungMinardwillbegrowlingroundthemlikeanangrybulldog。"
Felix，stillunderthestrongemotionimpartedtohimbyCeleste’sgenerousactionandthecrythatcamefromthegirl’sheart，thoughnoonebutMadameThuillierstillthoughtofit，becameinspiredbyoneofthoseingenuousartfulnesseswhicharethehonestcharlatanismoftruelove；buthewasnottothemannerbornofit，andmathematics，moreover，madehimsomewhatabsent—minded。HestationedhimselfnearMadameThuillier，imaginingthatMadameThuillierwouldattractCelestetoherside。ThisastutecalculationsucceededallthebetterbecauseyoungMinard，whosawinCelestenothingmorethana"dot，"
hadnosuchsuddeninspiration，andwasdrinkinghiscoffeeandtalkingpoliticswithLaudigeois，MonsieurBarniol，andDutocqbyorderofhisfather，whowasthinkingandplanningforthegeneralelectionofthelegislaturein1842。
"Whowouldn’tloveCeleste？"saidFelixtoMadameThuillier。
"Littledarling，nooneintheworldlovesmeasshedoes，"repliedthepoorslave，withdifficultyrestraininghertears。
"Ah！madame，webothloveyou，"saidthecandidprofessor，sincerely。
"Whatareyousayingtoeachother？"askedCeleste，comingup。
"Mychild，"saidthepiouswoman，drawinghergod—daughterdowntoherandkissingherontheforehead。"Hesaidthatyoubothlovedme。"
"Donotbeangrywithmypresumption，mademoiselle。LetmedoallI
cantoproveit，"murmuredFelix。"Ah！Icannothelpit，Iwasmadethisway；injusticerevoltsmetothesoul！Yes，theSaviourofmenwasrighttopromisethefuturetothemeekheart，totheslainlamb！
Amanwhodidnotloveyou，Celeste，musthaveadoredyouafterthatsublimeimpulseofyoursattable。Ah，yes！innocencealonecanconsolethemartyr。Youareakindyounggirl；youwillbeoneofthosewiveswhomakethegloryandthehappinessofafamily。Happybehewhomyouwillchoose！"
"Godmamma，withwhateyesdoyouthinkMonsieurFelixseesme？"
"Heappreciatesyou，mylittleangel；IshallpraytoGodforbothofyou。"
"IfyouknewhowhappyIamthatmyfathercandoaservicetoMonsieurThuillier，andhowIwishIcouldbeusefultoyourbrother——"
"Inshort，"saidCeleste，laughing，"youloveusall。"
"Well，yes，"repliedFelix。
Truelovewrapsitselfinthemysteriesofreserve，eveninitsexpression；itprovesitselfbyitself；itdoesnotfeelthenecessity，asafalselovedoes，oflightingaconflagration。Byanobserver（ifsuchabeingcouldhaveglidedintotheThuilliersalon）
abookmighthavebeenmadeincomparingthetwoscenesoflove—
making，andinwatchingtheenormouspreparationsofTheodoseandthesimplicityofFelix：onewasnature，theotherwassociety，——thetrueandthefalseembodied。Noticingherdaughterglowingwithhappiness，exhalinghersoulthroughtheporesofherface，andbeautifulwiththebeautyofayounggirlgatheringthefirstrosesofanindirectdeclaration，Flaviehadanimpulseofjealousyinherheart。ShecameacrosstoCelesteandsaidinherear：——
"Youarenotbehavingwell，mydaughter；everybodyisobservingyou；
youarecompromisingyourselfbytalkingsolongtoMonsieurFelixwithoutknowingwhetherweapproveofit。"
"But，mamma，mygodmotherishere。"
"Ah！pardonme，dearfriend，"saidMadameColleville；"Ididnotnoticeyou。"
"Youdoasothersdo，"saidthepoornonentity。
ThatreplystungMadameColleville，whoregardeditasabarbedarrow。
ShecastahaughtyglanceatFelixandsaidtoCeleste，"Sitthere，mydaughter，"seatingherselfatthesametimebesideMadameThuillierandpointingtoachairontheothersideofher。
"Iwillworkmyselftodeath，"saidFelixtoMadameThuillier。"I’llbeamemberoftheAcademyofSciences；I’llmakesomegreatdiscovery，andwinherhandbyforceoffame。"