"Are you referring now to your father? You must at least confess that he was excessively violent with me."
"He loves me so tenderly, that he even exaggerated what you had done. He has but me in the whole world; and so, Charles, I cannot believe that you really mean in future to refuse me permission to go and see him as usual."
"My dear little Bertha, you are so pretty, that I must lay some conditions on my promise."
"Ah, Charles, be generous without stipulations."
"What you say is very flattering," said M. de Brévannes abruptly; then, he continued, in a milder tone, "Well, well, we will see. You do with me just as you like, and I consent."
"Really, really, I may go to my father," said Bertha, turning towards him with her eyes sparkling, and her countenance almost restored to happiness.
M. de Brévannes glanced at the back of the box, placed his hands on his eyes, and said laughingly,—
"If I am to keep my promise, I must not look at you."
"Ah, thanks, a thousand thanks, Charles, and now I shall be so happy all the evening."
"That is to say, so handsome. So much the better, for my self-esteem as a husband will have nothing now to apprehend from the vicinity of Madame Girard."