"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。"