“Yes, my child, it seems natural; but your father has his reasons: we must respect them.”
The mother and daughter sat down in silence, the former upon her raised seat, the latter in her little armchair, and both took up their work. Swelling with gratitude for the full heart-understanding her mother had given her, Eugenie kissed the dear hand, saying,—
“How good you are, my kind mamma!”
The words sent a glow of light into the motherly face, worn and blighted as it was by many sorrows.
“You like him?” asked Eugenie.
Madame Grandet only smiled in reply. Then, after a moment’s silence, she said in a low voice: “Do you love him already? That is wrong.”
“Wrong?” said Eugenie. “Why is it wrong? You are pleased with him, Nanon is pleased with him; why should he not please me? Come, mamma, let us set the table for his breakfast.”
She threw down her work, and her mother did the same, saying, “Foolish child!” But she sanctioned the child’s folly by sharing it. Eugenie called Nanon.
“What do you want now, mademoiselle?”
“Nanon, can we have cream by midday?”