“I am not reproaching you, my dear; give parties, as that gives you pleasure; I shall never object.”
“You are a love; you are not obstinate like your mother; and I tell you again that this is all for our good. So make the necessary preparations. I have already ordered and arranged everything, and all that you will have to do will be to see that my orders are carried out.”
“Very well. But what shall I say to people whom I do not know?”
“Oh! don’t let that trouble you! You just bow and smile to every one. With your grace and your wit you will always be fascinating.”
“I would like to be fascinating to you alone.”
“Do you mean that I am unfaithful to you? I am really so good——”
“That some day you will be laughed at for it.”
“Never fear, I love you only.—I am going to send a few more invitations; prepare for our party.”
Edouard kissed his wife and left her. Adeline, in order to please him, inquired about what was to be done on the following day; she was alarmed at the magnitude of the expense, but it was too late to oppose it. After giving her orders, the young wife went to see her mother. It was on Madame Germeuil’s bosom that she poured out her grief, though she concealed much of it, in order not to make her mother more bitter against her husband.
“Oh!” said Adeline, “so long as he is faithful to me, I shall have nothing to complain of. I can forgive him everything except indifference, which I absolutely could not endure.”