"Yes, father, yes.—Oh! I can't refuse Gustave. And you are willing that he should be my husband, aren't you?"
"Especially," replied Monsieur Gerbault, as he embraced his daughter, "especially as you have loved him for a long time!"
"What, father! you knew it? How strange! I never told anyone my secret."
"But a father's eyes are sharp-sighted, dear heart; and now I trust that you will recover your good spirits."
"Take her, Gustave; she will not throw you over for another man. For, even when she could not possibly hope to be your wife, she refused all offers in order to be at liberty to love you. As for Monsieur Batonnin, I was sure beforehand of your reply; but, in order to soften your refusal, I will tell him that he came too late, because you are going to marry Gustave."
LXII
TERTIA SOLVET
The marriage of Gustave and Adolphine had been decided for four days; and as they were in great haste to be united and to make sure at last of a happiness which had constantly eluded the grasp of one, and which the other had never hoped to attain, they were hurrying forward the indispensable preliminaries to the celebration of their union.
Monsieur Grandcourt did not make a wry face when his nephew told him of the new choice he had made; on the contrary, he congratulated him.
"That one is all right," he said; "she's a charming girl, with all the good qualities which her sister lacks; therefore, she has a great many."