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elbow resting on the marble mantel…shelf。 When the porte…cochere
closed behind the carriage of the two notaries； she turned to her
future son…in…law； impatient to solve her doubts。
〃This has been the most terrible day of my life；〃 cried Paul；
overjoyed to see all difficulties vanish。 〃I know no one so downright
in speech as that old Mathias。 May God hear him； and make me peer of
France！ Dear Natalie； I desire this for your sake more than for my
own。 You are my ambition； I live only in you。〃
Hearing this speech uttered in the accents of the heart； and noting；
more especially； the limpid azure of Paul's eyes； whose glance
betrayed no thought of double meaning； Madame Evangelista's
satisfaction was complete。 She regretted the sharp language with which
she had spurred him； and in the joy of success she resolved to
reassure him as to the future。 Calming her countenance； and giving to
her eyes that expression of tender friendship which made her so
attractive； she smiled and answered：
〃I can say as much to you。 Perhaps； dear Paul； my Spanish nature has
led me farther than my heart desired。 Be what you are；kind as God
himself；and do not be angry with me for a few hasty words。 Shake
hands。〃
Paul was abashed； he fancied himself to blame； and he kissed Madame
Evangelista。
〃Dear Paul；〃 she said with much emotion； 〃why could not those two
sharks have settled this matter without dragging us into it； since it
was so easy to settle？〃
〃In that case I should not have known how grand and generous you can
be；〃 replied Paul。
〃Indeed she is； Paul；〃 cried Natalie； pressing his hand。
〃We have still a few little matters to settle； my dear son；〃 said
Madame Evangelista。 〃My daughter and I are above the foolish vanities
to which so many persons cling。 Natalie does not need my diamonds； but
I am glad to give them to her。〃
〃Ah！ my dear mother； do you suppose that I will accept them？〃
〃Yes； my child； they are one of the conditions of the contract。〃
〃I will not allow it； I will not marry at all；〃 cried Natalie；
vehemently。 〃Keep those jewels which my father took such pride in
collecting for you。 How could Monsieur Paul exact〃
〃Hush； my dear；〃 said her mother； whose eyes now filled with tears。
〃My ignorance of business compels me to a greater sacrifice than
that。〃
〃What sacrifice？〃
〃I must sell my house in order to pay the money that I owe to you。〃
〃What money can you possibly owe to me？〃 she said； 〃to me； who owe you
life！ If my marriage costs you the slightest sacrifice； I will not
marry。〃
〃Child！〃
〃Dear Natalie； try to understand that neither I； nor your mother； nor
you yourself； require these sacrifices； but our children。〃
〃Suppose I do not marry at all？〃
〃Do you not love me？〃 said Paul； tenderly。
〃Come； come； my silly child； do you imagine that a contract is like a
house of cards which you can blow down at will？ Dear little ignoramus；
you don't know what trouble we have had to found an entail for the
benefit of your eldest son。 Don't cast us back into the discussions
from which we have just escaped。〃
〃Why do you wish to ruin my mother？〃 said Natalie； looking at Paul。
〃Why are you so rich？〃 he replied； smiling。
〃Don't quarrel； my children； you are not yet married；〃 said Madame
Evangelista。 〃Paul；〃 she continued； 〃you are not to give either
corbeille； or jewels； or trousseau。 Natalie has everything in
profusion。 Lay by the money you would otherwise put into wedding
presents。 I know nothing more stupidly bourgeois and commonplace than
to spend a hundred thousand francs on a corbeille； when five thousand
a year given to a young woman saves her much anxiety and lasts her
lifetime。 Besides； the money for a corbeille is needed to decorate
your house in Paris。 We will return to Lanstrac in the spring； for
Solonet is to settle my debts during the winter。〃
〃All is for the best；〃 cried Paul； at the summit of happiness。
〃So I shall see Paris！〃 cried Natalie； in a tone that would justly
have alarmed de Marsay。
〃If we decide upon this plan；〃 said Paul； 〃I'll write to de Marsay and
get him to take a box for me at the Bouffons and also at the Italian
opera。〃
〃You are very kind； I should never have dared to ask for it；〃 said
Natalie。 〃Marriage is a very agreeable institution if it gives
husbands a talent for divining the wishes of their wives。〃
〃It is nothing else；〃 replied Paul。 〃But see how late it is； I ought
to go。〃
〃Why leave so soon to…night？〃 said Madame Evangelista； employing those
coaxing ways to which men are so sensitive。
Though all this passed on the best of terms； and according to the laws
of the most exquisite politeness； the effect of the discussion of
these contending interests had； nevertheless； cast between son and
mother…in…law a seed of distrust and enmity which was liable to sprout
under the first heat of anger； or the warmth of a feeling too harshly
bruised。 In most families the settlement of 〃dots〃 and the deeds of
gift required by a marriage contract give rise to primitive emotions
of hostility； caused by self…love； by the lesion of certain
sentiments； by regret for the sacrifices made； and by the desire to
diminish them。 When difficulties arise there is always a victorious
side and a vanquished one。 The parents of the future pair try to
conclude the matter； which is purely commercial in their eyes； to
their own advantage； and this leads to the trickery； shrewdness； and
deception of such negotiations。 Generally the husband alone is
initiated into the secret of these discussions； and the wife is kept；
like Natalie； in ignorance of the stipulations which make her rich or
poor。
As he left the house； Paul reflected that； thanks to the cleverness of
his notary； his fortune was almost entirely secured from injury。 If
Madame Evangelista did not live apart from her daughter their united
household would have an income of more than a hundred thousand francs
to spend。 All his expectations of a happy and comfortable life would
be realized。
〃My mother…in…law seems to me an excellent woman；〃 he thought； still
under the influence of the cajoling manner by which she had endeavored
to disperse the clouds raised by the discussion。 〃Mathias is mistaken。
These notaries are strange fellows； they envenom everything。 The harm
started from that little cock…sparrow Solonet； who wanted to play a
clever game。〃
While Paul went to bed recapitulating the advantages he had won during
the evening； Madame Evangelista was congratulating herself equally on
her victory。
〃Well； darling mother； are you satisfied？〃 said Natalie； following
Madame Evangelista into her bedroom。
〃Yes； love；〃 replied the mother； 〃everything went well； according to
my wishes； I feel a weight lifted from my shoulders which was crushing
me。 Paul is a most easy…going man。 Dear fellow！ yes； certainly； we
must make his life prospero