"The next day our marriage was decided, perfectly decided. Our waltz had caused scandal. That was just what I wanted."
"There, Aunt Louise, is the history of our marriage, and I want to-day to draw this conclusion: it is that I was the first to begin to love, and I shall have, consequently, one day, when it pleases me, the right to stop the first."
"Ah, no, indeed; tell her, Aunt Louise, that she will never have that right—"
A new quarrel threatened to break out.
"This, my children," said the old aunt, "is all I have to say: she did, in truth, start the first to love; but it seems to me, Gontran, that you started all at once at such a great pace that you must have caught up with her."
"Passed her, Aunt Louise."
"Oh no!" exclaimed Marceline.
"Oh yes—"
"Oh no—"
"Well," continued Aunt Louise, "try never to have any other quarrels than that one. Try to walk always in life step by step, side by side, and heart to heart. I have seen many inventions since I was born, and the world is no longer what it was then. But there is one thing to which inventions have made no difference, and never will. That thing you have; keep it. It is love! Love each other, children, as strongly and as long as possible."