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When the boys were eighteen years of age； the count gave them rooms in
his own part of the house； and sent them to study law under the
supervision of a solicitor； his former secretary。 The two Maries knew
nothing therefore of fraternity； except by theory。 At the time of the
marriage of the sisters； both brothers were practising in provincial
courts； and both were detained by important cases。 Domestic life in
many families which might be expected to be intimate； united； and
homogeneous； is really spent in this way。 Brothers are sent to a
distance； busy with their own careers； their own advancement；
occupied； perhaps； about the good of the country； the sisters are
engrossed in a round of other interests。 All the members of such a
family live disunited； forgetting one another； bound together only by
some feeble tie of memory； until； perhaps； a sentiment of pride or
self…interest either joins them or separates them in heart as they
already are in fact。 Modern laws； by multiplying the family by the
family； has created a great evil；namely； individualism。
In the depths of this solitude where their girlhood was spent；
Angelique and Eugenie seldom saw their father； and when he did enter
the grand apartment of his wife on the first floor； he brought with
him a saddened face。 In his own home he always wore the grave and
solemn look of a magistrate on the bench。 When the little girls had
passed the age of dolls and toys； when they began； about twelve； to
use their minds （an epoch at which they ceased to laugh at Schmucke）
they divined the secret of the cares that lined their father's
forehead； and they recognized beneath that mask of sternness the
relics of a kind heart and a fine character。 They vaguely perceived
how he had yielded to the forces of religion in his household；
disappointed as he was in his hopes of a husband； and wounded in the
tenderest fibres of paternity；the love of a father for his
daughters。 Such griefs were singularly moving to the hearts of the two
young girls； who were themselves deprived of all tenderness。
Sometimes； when pacing the garden between his daughters； with an arm
round each little waist； and stepping with their own short steps； the
father would stop short behind a clump of trees； out of sight of the
house； and kiss them on their foreheads； his eyes； his lips； his whole
countenance expressing the deepest commiseration。
〃You are not very happy； my dear little girls；〃 he said one day； 〃but
I shall marry you early。 It will comfort me to have you leave home。〃
〃Papa；〃 said Eugenie； 〃we have decided to take the first man who
offers。〃
〃Ah！〃 he cried； 〃that is the bitter fruit of such a system。 They want
to make saints； and they make〃 he stopped without ending his
sentence。
Often the two girls felt an infinite tenderness in their father's
〃Adieu；〃 or in his eyes； when； by chance； he dined at home。 They
pitied that father so seldom seen； and love follows often upon pity。
This stern and rigid education was the cause of the marriages of the
two sisters welded together by misfortune； as Rita…Christina by the
hand of Nature。 Many men； driven to marriage； prefer a girl taken from
a convent； and saturated with piety； to a girl brought up to worldly
ideas。 There seems to be no middle course。 A man must marry either an
educated girl； who reads the newspapers and comments upon them； who
waltzes with a dozen young men； goes to the theatre； devours novels；
cares nothing for religion； and makes her own ethics； or an ignorant
and innocent young girl； like either of the two Maries。 Perhaps there
may be as much danger with the one kind as with the other。 Yet the
vast majority of men who are not so old as Arnolphe； prefer a
religious Agnes to a budding Celimene。
The two Maries； who were small and slender； had the same figure； the
same foot； the same hand。 Eugenie； the younger； was fair…haired； like
her mother； Angelique was dark…haired； like the father。 But they both
had the same complexion；a skin of the pearly whiteness which shows
the richness and purity of the blood； where the color rises through a
tissue like that of the jasmine； soft； smooth； and tender to the
touch。 Eugenie's blue eyes and the brown eyes of Angelique had an
expression of artless indifference； of ingenuous surprise； which was
rendered by the vague manner with which the pupils floated on the
fluid whiteness of the eyeball。 They were both well…made； the rather
thin shoulders would develop later。 Their throats； long veiled；
delighted the eye when their husbands requested them to wear low
dresses to a ball； on which occasion they both felt a pleasing shame；
which made them first blush behind closed doors； and afterwards；
through a whole evening in company。
On the occasion when this scene opens； and the eldest； Angelique； was
weeping； while the younger； Eugenie； was consoling her； their hands
and arms were white as milk。 Each had nursed a child；one a boy； the
other a daughter。 Eugenie； as a girl； was thought very giddy by her
mother； who had therefore treated her with especial watchfulness and
severity。 In the eyes of that much…feared mother； Angelique； noble and
proud； appeared to have a soul so lofty that it would guard itself；
whereas； the more lively Eugenie needed restraint。 There are many
charming beings misused by fate；beings who ought by rights to
prosper in this life； but who live and die unhappy； tortured by some
evil genius； the victims of unfortunate circumstances。 The innocent
and naturally light…hearted Eugenie had fallen into the hands and
beneath the malicious despotism of a self…made man on leaving the
maternal prison。 Angelique； whose nature inclined her to deeper
sentiments； was thrown into the upper spheres of Parisian social life；
with the bridle lying loose upon her neck。
CHAPTER II
A CONFIDENCE BETWEEN SISTERS
Madame de Vandenesse； Marie…Angelique； who seemed to have broken down
under a weight of troubles too heavy for her soul to bear； was lying
back on the sofa with bent limbs； and her head tossing restlessly。 She
had rushed to her sister's house after a brief appearance at the
Opera。 Flowers were still in her hair； but others were scattered upon
the carpet； together with her gloves； her silk pelisse； and muff and
hood。 Tears were mingling with the pearls on her bosom； her swollen
eyes appeared to make strange confidences。 In the midst of so much
luxury her distress was horrible； and she seemed unable to summon
courage to speak。
〃Poor darling！〃 said Madame du Tillet； 〃what a mistaken idea you have
of my marriage if you think that I can help you！〃
Hearing this revelation； dragged from her sister's heart by the
violence of the storm she herself had raised there； the countess
looked with stupefied eyes at the banker's wife； her tears stopped；
and her eyes grew fixed。
〃Are you in misery as well； my dearest？〃 she said； in a low voice。
〃My griefs will not ease yo