“Love! Well, you can call it love if you like.”
“I do,” said he very earnestly.
On which his mother staggered him by saying:
“George wouldn’t.”
In spite of himself, and against the grain, René began to think a little enviously of his brother, master unperplexed of his own and another life.
[IV
A RETURN]
Why, among us a drowning man has to make for himself the very straw he’s to clutch at!
BOTH René and his mother were excited all day over their projected visit to a music-hall.
Thrigsby had ten of these places of amusement, and they found it hard to decide which to patronize. Only one was outside the possibility of choice, because it had performing seals in the bill, and Mrs. Fourmy could not bear to see animals on the stage. René was for the low comedians, his mother for music; and at last, in the program of one of the suburban halls, she found a musical turn which had once given her immense pleasure. She talked of it all afternoon, adding all the time so generously to its wonder that René began to fear she would be disappointed with the actuality. But her anticipation was so firm as to overbear any shortcomings in the performance, and she saw and heard only what she expected to see and hear. For René there was a very droll comedian who made him shout with laughter. Mrs. Fourmy was shocked at a joke at the expense of the Deity and those who go to heaven, but she was so delighted with her son’s pleasure that she swallowed her distaste and laughed too. All the way home they recapitulated their moments of delight, and laughed and melted in remembrance.