“I will not allow it; I will not marry at all,” cried Natalie, vehemently. “Keep those jewels which my father took such pride in collecting for you. How could Monsieur Paul exact—”
“Hush, my dear,” said her mother, whose eyes now filled with tears. “My ignorance of business compels me to a greater sacrifice than that.”
“What sacrifice?”
“I must sell my house in order to pay the money that I owe to you.”
“What money can you possibly owe to me?” she said; “to me, who owe you life! If my marriage costs you the slightest sacrifice, I will not marry.”
“Child!”
“Dear Natalie, try to understand that neither I, nor your mother, nor you yourself, require these sacrifices, but our children.”
“Suppose I do not marry at all?”
“Do you not love me?” said Paul, tenderly.
“Come, come, my silly child; do you imagine that a contract is like a house of cards which you can blow down at will? Dear little ignoramus, you don’t know what trouble we have had to found an entail for the benefit of your eldest son. Don’t cast us back into the discussions from which we have just escaped.”