"Ah, M. David, what joy, what transport for us, if our anticipations are realised!"
It is impossible to reproduce the tenderness Marie expressed in those words, "we—our anticipations," which in themselves revealed the secret projects for happiness, tacitly formed by Marie and David.
The latter continued:
"Believe me, madame, we will see him great in heart and in intellect. There is in him an extraordinary energy, which has developed twofold through this dreaded envy which has so much alarmed us."
"Indeed, on yesterday, M. David, he said to me, cheerfully:
"'Mother, now when I see the castle of Pont Brillant rising in the distance,—that once made me so unhappy,—I throw upon it only a glance of friendly regard and defiance.'"
"And you will see, madame, if, in eight or ten years, the name of Frederick Bastien will not resound more gloriously than that of the young marquis."
"I have the pride to share your hope, M. David. Guided by us, I do not know to what height my son may not attain."
"Then after a short silence Marie added:
"But do you know it all seems like a dream? When I think that it is scarcely two months ago, the evening of your arrival, you were there at that table, looking over Frederick's exercises, and deploring, like me, the veil which lay over the mind of this unhappy child."