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absorbing desire for affection。 She now put forth all her graces of
her mind and was charming； she revealed the hidden beauties of her
tender heart with the simple candor of a child。 For the last thirteen
years she had been a woman only through suffering； she longed to
obtain amends for it； and she showed herself as loving and winning as
she had been； up to this time； strong and great。
The four elders； who were the last to leave the salon that night；
admitted to each other that they felt uneasy at the new position of
this charming girl。 What power might not passion have on a young woman
of her character and with her nobility of soul？ The twin brothers
loved her with one and the same love and a blind devotion； which of
the two would Laurence choose？ To choose one was to kill the other。
Countess in her own right； she could bring her husband a title and
certain prerogatives； together with a long lineage。 Perhaps in
thinking of these advantages the elder of the twins； the Marquis de
Simeuse； would sacrifice himself to give Laurence to his brother； who；
according to the old laws； was poor and without a title。 But would the
younger brother deprive the elder of the happiness of having Laurence
for a wife？ At a distance； this strife of love and generosity might do
no harm；in fact； so long as the brothers were facing danger the
chances of war might end the difficulty； but what would be the result
of this reunion？ When Marie…Paul and Paul…Marie reached the age when
passions rise to their greatest height could they share； as now； the
looks and words and attentions of their cousin？ must there not
inevitably arise a jealousy between them the consequences of which
might be horrible？ What would then become of the unity of those
beautiful lives； one in heart though twain in body？ To these
questionings； passed from one to another as they finished their game；
Madame d'Hauteserre replied that in her opinion Laurence would not
marry either of her cousins。 The poor lady had experienced that
evening one of those inexplicable presentiments which are secrets
between the mother's heart and God。
Laurence； in her inward consciousness； was not less alarmed at finding
herself tete…a…tete with her cousins。 To the active drama of
conspiracy； to the dangers which the brothers had incurred； to the
pain and penalties of their exile； was now succeeding another sort of
drama； of which she had never thought。 This noble girl could not
resort to the violent means of refusing to marry either of the twins；
and she was too honest a woman to marry one and keep an irresistible
passion for the other in her heart。 To remain unmarried； to weary her
cousins' love by no decision； and then to take the one who was
faithful to her in spite of her caprices； was a solution of the
difficulty not so much sought for by her as vaguely admitted。 As she
fell asleep that night she told herself the wisest course to follow
was to let things take their chance。 Chance is； in love； the
providence of women。
The next morning Michu went to Paris； whence he returned a few days
later with four fine horses for his new masters。 In six weeks' time
the hunting would begin； and the young countess sagely reflected that
the violent excitements of that exercise would be a help against the
tete…a…tetes of the chateau。 At first； however； an unexpected result
surprised the spectators of these strange loves and roused their
admiration。 Without any premeditated agreement the brothers rivalled
each other in attentions to Laurence； with a sense of pleasure in so
doing which appeared to suffice them。 The relation between themselves
and Laurence was just as fraternal as that between themselves。 What
could be more natural？ After so long an absence they felt the
necessity of studying her； of knowing her well and letting her know
them； leaving to her the right of choice。 They were sustained in this
first trial by the mutual affection which made their double life one
and the same life。
Love； like their own mother； was unable to distinguish between the
brothers。 Laurence was obliged （in order to know them apart and make
no mistakes） to give them different cravatsto the elder a white one；
to the younger black。 Without this perfect resemblance； this identity
of life； which misled all about them； such a situation would be justly
thought impossible。 It can； indeed； be explained only by the fact
itself； which is one of those which men do not believe in unless they
see them； and then the mind is more bewildered by having to explain
them than by the actual sight which caused belief。 If Laurence spoke；
her voice echoed in two hearts equally faithful and loving with one
tone。 Did she give utterance to an intelligent； or witty； or noble
thought； her glance encountered the delight expressed in two glances
which followed her every movement； interpreted her slightest wish； and
beamed upon her ever with a new expression； gaiety in the one； tender
melancholy in the other。 In any matter that concerned their mistress
the brothers showed an admirable quick…wittedness of heart coupled
with instant action which （to use the abbe's own expression）
approached the sublime。 Often； if something had to be fetched； if it
was a question of some little attention which men delight to pay to a
beloved woman； the elder would leave that pleasure to the younger with
a look at Laurence that was proud and tender。 The younger； on the
other hand； put all his own pride into paying such debts。 This rivalry
of noble natures in a feeling which leads men often to the jealous
ferocity of the beasts amazed the old people who were watching it； and
bewildered their ideas。
Such little details often drew tears to the eyes of the countess。 A
single sensation； which is perhaps all…powerful in some rare
organizations； will give an idea of Laurence's emotions； it may be
perceived by recalling the perfect unison of two fine voices （like
those of Malibran and Sontag） in some harmonious /duo/； or the
blending of two instruments touched by the hand of genius； their
melodious tones entering the soul like the passionate sighing of one
heart。 Sometimes； seeing the Marquis de Simeuse buried in an arm…chair
and glancing from time to time with deepest melancholy at his brother
and Laurence who were talking and laughing； the abbe believed him
capable of making the great sacrifice； presently； however； the priest
would see in the young man's eyes the flash of an unconquerable
passion。 Whenever either of the brothers found himself alone with
Laurence he might reasonably suppose himself the one preferred。
〃I fancy then that there is but one of them；〃 explained the countess
to the abbe when he questioned her。 That answer showed the priest her
total want of coquetry。 Laurence did not conceive that she was loved
by two men。
〃But； my dear child；〃 said Madame d'Hauteserre one evening （her own
son silently dying of love for Laurence）； 〃you must choose！〃
〃Oh； let us be happy；〃 she replied； 〃God will save us from ourselves。〃
Adrien d'Hauteserre buried within his breast the jealousy that was
consuming him； he kept the secret of his torture； aware of how little
he could hope。 He tried to be content with the happiness of seeing the
charming woman who during the few months this struggle lasted shone in
all her brilliancy。 In one sense Laurence had become coquettish；
taking that dainty care of her person which women who are loved
delight in。 She followed the fashions； and went more than once to
Paris to deck her beauty with /chiffons/ or some choice novelty。
Desirous of giving her cousins a sense of home and its every
enjoyment； from which they had so long been severed； she made her
chateau； in spite of the remonstrances of her late guardian； the most
completely comfortable house in Champagne。
Robert d'Hauteserre saw nothing of this hidden drama； he never noticed
his brother's love for Laurence。 As to the girl herself； he liked to
tease her about her coquetry；for he confounded that odious defect
with the natural desire to please； he was always mistaken in matters
of feeling； taste； and the higher ethics。 So； whenever this man of the
middle…ages appeared on the scene； Laurence immediately made him；
unknown to himself； the clown of the play； she amused her cousins by
arguing with Robert； and leading him； step by step； into some bog of
ignorance and stupidity。 She excelled in such clever mischief； which；
to be really successful； must leave the victim content with himself。
And yet； though his nature was a coarse one； Robert never； during
those delightful months （the only happy period in the lives of the
three young people） said one virile word which might have brought
matters to a crisis between Laurence and her cousins。 He was struck
with the sincerity of the brothers； he saw how the one could be glad
at the happiness of the other and yet suffer anguish in the depths of
his heart； and he did perceive how a woman might shrink from showing
tenderness to one which would grieve the other。 This perception on
Robert's part was a just one； it explains a situation which； in times
of faith； when the sovereign pontiff had power to intervene and cut
the Gordian knot o