"Otherwise we shall lose all the advantages we ought to derive from this guardianship," added the baroness.
"For of course one does not act as guardian merely for the pleasure of it," interpolated the baron.
"On the contrary, we ought to derive both pleasure and profit from the connection," said the baroness.
"That is precisely what I meant," retorted the baron.
"I do not doubt it," replied the baroness. Then she added: "Let us agree in the first place that, in all matters relating to Ernestine, we will never act without a full understanding with one another."
"That resolution is adopted!" cried the baron.
"And is eminently just," remarked Helena.
"As we long ago broke off all connection with the Comtesse de Beaumesnil,—a woman I never could tolerate,"—continued the baroness, "we know absolutely nothing about Ernestine's character, but fortunately she is barely sixteen, and in a couple of days we shall be able to read her like a book."
"You may trust to my sagacity for that," said the baron, with a truly Machiavelian air.
"I shall trust to your penetration, of course, but just a little to my own as well," responded the baroness. "But whatever kind of a girl Ernestine may be, there is but one course for us to pursue. We must lavish every attention upon her, gratify her slightest wish, try to ascertain her tastes; in short, flatter her, satisfy her every whim, please her in every possible way. We must do all this if we would succeed. As for the means, they will be found when we become acquainted with Ernestine's habits and tastes."