"Let us ward it off; I ask nothing better."
"Remember that the repose, the happiness, yes, even the honor, of your pupil are at stake, and that his sins will rebound on you."
"I beg your pardon: a mistake in syntax, or in Latin verses, I agree; but I never taught him to seduce innocent girls; it was rather your evil counsels that perverted him."
"Monsieur Ménard!"
"Monsieur Dubourg!"
"Let's go to bed."
XXX
FRÉDÉRIC'S RETURN.—CONSTANCE AND SISTER ANNE
Dubourg had been Madame de Montreville's guest for ten days, and during those ten days he had not ceased his efforts to invent some means of warding off the effect that the sight of Frédéric would surely produce on Sister Anne. He saw that Constance's attachment to her protégée and the latter's gratitude to her benefactress increased from day to day. To separate them seemed more difficult than ever; Constance frequently said that she could not do without Sister Anne and her son, and the young mother seemed to feel her grief less keenly by her side.
Frédéric was expected at any moment; indeed, he was already overdue. Constance was worried by his delay; she was less cheerful than usual, and her eyes were often wet with tears. At such times, Sister Anne strove to comfort her, and to say to her by signs that her husband would soon return.