"Well, then, Hubert is too young for her; he is only a lad!"
"I should certainly prefer seeing her married to a man rather more settled down; but, if she should care for him, he is of good family, and is wealthy, why should she not marry him as well as any other?"
"Do you really think that Bijou cares for him?" asked M. de Clagny anxiously.
"I don't know anything about it at all," answered the marchioness, laughing; "but anyhow, what can that matter to you? I can understand that Jean or Henry should be disturbed in their minds—but you?" As he did not reply, she went on: "It's a case of the dog in the manger: he does not want the bone himself, but he does not want the others to have it either. That is just your case, my poor friend, for, I presume, you have no idea of marrying Bijou yourself?"
He answered in a joking way, but there was a troubled look on his face.
"Oh, as to me, it is an idea that I should like very much; but she would not; therefore it amounts to the same thing!"
Bijou came up to them just at that moment, gliding along with her light step. She was followed by young Bernès, who looked vexed about something.
"I cannot, really, mademoiselle," he was saying, "I assure you that I cannot get away from my friends that day."
"Oh, yes, you can; mustn't he, grandmamma?" asked Denyse merrily, "mustn't M. de Bernès come to dinner here on the day of the paper-chase? He is to be the hare, and the start is to be from the 'Cinq-Tranchées'—it is only a mile from Bracieux at the farthest."
Madame de Bracieux was examining the young officer with interest, and there was a kindly look in her eyes.