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which made her the mistress of her own choice and allowed her to
bestow it as her heart desired。
But la Peyrade was not mistaken in his calculation when he reckoned
that the religious intolerance of the young girl on one side； and the
philosophical inflexibility of Phellion's son on the other； would
create an invincible obstacle to their coming together。
CHAPTER III
GOOD BLOOD CANNOT LIE
The evening of the day on which Flavie had communicated to Celeste the
sovereign orders of Thuillier； the Phellions called to spend the
evening with Brigitte； and a very sharp engagement took place between
the two young people。 Mademoiselle Colleville did not need to be told
by her mother that it would be extremely unbecoming if she allowed
Felix to know of the conditional approval that was granted to their
sentiments。 Celeste had too much delicacy； and too much real religious
feeling to wish to obtain the conversion of the man she loved on any
other ground than that of his conviction。 Their evening was therefore
passed in theological debate； but love is so strange a Proteus； and
takes so many and such various forms； that though it appeared on this
occasion in a black gown and a mob cap； it was not at all as
ungraceful and displeasing as might have been imagined。 But Phellion
junior was in this encounter； the solemnity of which he little knew；
unlucky and blundering to the last degree。 Not only did he concede
nothing； but he took a tone of airy and ironical discussion； and ended
by putting poor Celeste so beside herself that she finally declared an
open rupture and forbade him to appear in her presence again。
It was just the case for a lover more experienced than the young
savant to reappear the very next day； for young hearts are never so
near to understanding each other as when they have just declared the
necessity of eternal separation。 But this law is not one of
logarithms； and Felix Phellion； being incapable of guessing it；
thought himself positively and finally banished； so much so； that
during the fifteen days granted to the poor girl to deliberate （as
says the Code in the matter of beneficiary bequests）； although he was
expected day by day； and from minute to minute by Celeste； who gave no
more thought to la Peyrade than if he had nothing to do with the
question； the deplorably stupid youth did not have the most distant
idea of breaking his ban。
Luckily for this hopeless lover； a beneficent fairy was watching over
him； and the evening before the day on which the young girl was to
make her decision the following affair took place。
It was Sunday； the day on which the Thuilliers still kept up their
weekly receptions。
Madame Phellion； convinced that the housekeeping leakage； vulgarly
called 〃the basket dance；〃 was the ruin of the best…regulated
households； was in the habit of going in person to her tradespeople。
From time immemorial in the Phellion establishment； Sunday was the day
of the 〃pot…au…feu；〃 and the wife of the great citizen； in that
intentionally dowdy costume in which good housekeepers bundle
themselves when they go to market； was prosaically returning from a
visit to the butcher； followed by her cook and the basket； in which
lay a magnificent cut of the loin of beef。 Twice had she rung her own
doorbell； and terrible was the storm gathering on the head of the
foot…boy； who by his slowness in opening the door was putting his
mistress in a situation less tolerable than that of Louis XIV。； who
had only ALMOST waited。 In her feverish impatience Madame Phellion had
just given the bell a third and ferocious reverberation； when； judge
of her confusion； a little coupe drew up with much clatter at the door
of her house； and a lady descended； whom she recognized； at this
untimely hour； as the elegant Comtesse Torna de Godollo！
Turning a purplish scarlet； the unfortunate bourgeoise lost her head；
and； floundering in excuses； she was about to complicate the position
by some signal piece of awkwardness； when； happily for her； Phellion；
attracted by the noise of the bell； and attired in a dressing…gown and
Greek cap； came out of his study to inquire what was the matter。 After
a speech； the pompous charm of which did much to compensate for his
dishabille； the great citizen； with the serenity that never abandoned
him； offered his hand very gallantly to the lady； and having installed
her in the salon； said：
〃May I； without indiscretion； ask Madame la comtesse what has procured
for us the unhoped…for advantage of this visit？〃
〃I have come；〃 said the lady； 〃to talk with Madame Phellion on a
matter which must deeply interest her。 I have no other way of meeting
her without witnesses； and therefore； though I am hardly known to
Madame Phellion； I have taken the liberty to call upon her here。〃
〃Madame； your visit is a great honor to this poor dwelling。 But where
is Madame Phellion？〃 added the worthy man； impatiently； going towards
the door。
〃No； I beg of you； don't disturb her；〃 said the countess； 〃I have
heedlessly come at a moment when she is busy with household cares。
Brigitte has been my educator in such matters； and I know the respect
we ought to pay to good housekeepers。 Besides； I have the pleasure of
your presence； which I scarcely expected。〃
Before Phellion could reply to these obliging words； Madame Phellion
appeared。 A cap with ribbons had taken the place of the market bonnet；
and a large shawl covered the other insufficiencies of the morning
toilet。 When his wife arrived； the great citizen made as though he
would discreetly retire。
〃Monsieur Phellion；〃 said the countess； 〃you are not one too many in
the conference I desire with madame； on the contrary； your excellent
judgment will be most useful in throwing light upon a matter as
interesting to you as to your wife。 I allude to the marriage of your
son。〃
〃The marriage of my son！〃 cried Madame Phellion； with a look of
astonishment； 〃but I am not aware that anything of the kind is at
present in prospect。〃
〃The marriage of Monsieur Felix with Mademoiselle Celeste is； I think；
one of your strongest desires〃
〃But we have never；〃 said Phellion； 〃taken any overt steps for that
object。〃
〃I know that only too well；〃 replied the countess； 〃on the contrary；
every one in your family seems to study how to defeat my efforts in
that direction。 However； one thing is clear in spite of the reserve；
and； you must allow me to say so； the clumsiness in which the affair
has been managed； and that is that the young people love each other；
and they will both be unhappy if they do not marry。 Now； to prevent
this catastrophe is the object with which I have come here this
morning。〃
〃We cannot； madame； be otherwise than deeply sensible of the interest
you are so good as to show in the happiness of our son；〃 said
Phellion； 〃but； in truth； this interest〃
〃Is something so inexplicable；〃 interrupted the countess； 〃that you
feel a distrust of it？〃
〃Oh！ madame！〃 said Phellion； bowing with an air of respectful dissent。
〃But；〃 continued the lady； 〃the explanation of my proceeding is very
simple。 I have studied Celeste； and in that dear and artless child I
find a moral weight and value which would make me grieve to see her
sacrificed。〃
〃You are right； madame；〃 said Madame Phellion。 〃Celeste is； indeed； an
angel of sweetness。〃
〃As for monsieur Felix； I venture to interest myself because； in the
first place； he is the son of so virtuous a father〃
〃Oh； madame！ I entreat〃 said Phellion； bowing again。
〃and he also attracts me by the awkwardness of true love； which
appears in all his actions and all his words。 We mature women find an
inexpressible charm in seeing the tender passion under a form which
threatens us with no deceptions and no misunderstandings。〃
〃My son is certainly not brilliant；〃 said Madame Phellion； with a
faint tone of sharpness； 〃he is not a fashionable young man。〃
〃But he has the qualities that are most essential；〃 replied the
countess； 〃and a merit which ignores itself；a thing of the utmost
consequence in all intellectual superiority〃
〃Really； madame；〃 said Phellion； 〃you force us to hear things that〃
〃That are not beyond the truth；〃 interrupted the countess。 〃Another
reason which leads me to take a deep interest in the happiness of
these young people is that I am not so desirous for that of Monsieur
Theodose de la Peyrade； who is false and grasping。 On the ruin of
their hopes that man is counting to carry out his swindling purposes。〃
〃It is quite certain；〃 said Phellion； 〃that there are dark depths in
Monsieur de la Peyrade where light does not penetrate。〃
〃And as I myself had the misfortune to marry a man of his description；
the thought of the wretchedness to which Celeste would be condemned by
so fatal a connection； impels me； in the hope of saving her； to the
charitable effort which now； I trust； has ceased to surprise you。〃
〃Madame；〃 said Phellion； 〃we do not need the conclusive explanations
by which you illumine your conduct； but as to the faults on our part；
which have thwarted your generous efforts； I must declare that in
order to avoid committing them in future； it seems to me not a little
desirabl