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my mother…in…law would have tricked me。 And yet； is that believable？
What interest could lead her to deceive me？ Are we not to join
fortunes and live together？ Well； well； why should I worry about it？
In two days Natalie will be my wife； our money relations are plainly
defined； nothing can come between us。 Vogue la galereNevertheless；
I'll be upon my guard。 Suppose Mathias was right？ Well； if he was； I'm
not obliged to marry my mother…in…law。〃
In this second battle of the contract Paul's future had completely
changed in aspect； though he was not aware of it。 Of the two persons
whom he was marrying； one； the cleverest； was now his mortal enemy；
and meditated already withdrawing her interests from the common fund。
Incapable of observing the difference that a Creole nature placed
between his mother…in…law and other women； Paul was far from
suspecting her craftiness。 The Creole nature is apart from all others；
it derives from Europe by its intellect； from the tropics by the
illogical violence of its passions； from the East by the apathetic
indifference with which it does； or suffers； either good or evil；
equally；a graceful nature withal； but dangerous； as a child is
dangerous if not watched。 Like a child； the Creole woman must have her
way immediately； like a child； she would burn a house to boil an egg。
In her soft and easy life she takes no care upon her mind； but when
impassioned； she thinks of all things。 She has something of the
perfidy of the Negroes by whom she has been surrounded from her
cradle； but she is also as naive and even； at times； as artless as
they。 Like them and like the children； she wishes doggedly for one
thing with a growing intensity of desire； and will brood upon that
idea until she hatches it。 A strange assemblage of virtues and
defects！ which her Spanish nature had strengthened in Madame
Evangelista； and over which her French experience had cast the glaze
of its politeness。
This character； slumbering in married happiness for sixteen years；
occupied since then with the trivialities of social life； this nature
to which a first hatred had revealed its strength； awoke now like a
conflagration； at the moment of the woman's life when she was losing
the dearest object of her affections and needed another element for
the energy that possessed her； this flame burst forth。 Natalie could
be but three days more beneath her influence！ Madame Evangelista；
vanquished at other points； had one clear day before her； the last of
those that a daughter spends beside her mother。 A few words； and the
Creole nature could influence the lives of the two beings about to
walk together through the brambled paths and the dusty high…roads of
Parisian society； for Natalie believed in her mother blindly。 What
far…reaching power would the counsel of that Creole nature have on a
mind so subservient！ The whole future of these lives might be
determined by one single speech。 No code； no human institution can
prevent the crime that kills by words。 There lies the weakness of
social law； in that is the difference between the morals of the great
world and the morals of the people： one is frank； the other
hypocritical； one employs the knife； the other the venom of ideas and
language； to one death； to the other impunity。
The next morning； about mid…day； Madame Evangelista was half seated；
half lying on the edge of her daughter's bed。 During that waking hour
they caressed and played together in happy memory of their loving
life； a life in which no discord had ever troubled either the harmony
of their feelings； the agreement of their ideas； or the mutual choice
and enjoyment of their pleasures。
〃Poor little darling！〃 said the mother； shedding true tears； 〃how can
I help being sorrowful when I think that after I have fulfilled your
every wish during your whole life you will belong； to…morrow night； to
a man you must obey？〃
〃Oh； my dear mother； as for obeying！〃 and Natalie made a little
motion of her head which expressed a graceful rebellion。 〃You are
joking；〃 she continued。 〃My father always gratified your caprices； and
why not？ he loved you。 And I am loved； too。〃
〃Yes； Paul has a certain love for you。 But if a married woman is not
careful nothing more rapidly evaporates than conjugal love。 The
influence a wife ought to have over her husband depends entirely on
how she begins with him。 You need the best advice。〃
〃But you will be with us。〃
〃Possibly； my child。 Last night； while the ball was going on； I
reflected on the dangers of our being together。 If my presence were to
do you harm； if the little acts by which you ought slowly； but surely；
to establish your authority as a wife should be attributed to my
influence； your home would become a hell。 At the first frown I saw
upon your husband's brow I； proud as I am； should instantly leave his
house。 If I were driven to leave it； better； I think； not to enter it。
I should never forgive your husband if he caused trouble between us。
Whereas； when you have once become the mistress； when your husband is
to you what your father was to me； that danger is no longer to be
feared。 Though this wise policy will cost your young and tender heart
a pang； your happiness demands that you become the absolute sovereign
of your home。〃
〃Then why； mamma； did you say just now I must obey him？〃
〃My dear little daughter； in order that a wife may rule； she must
always seem to do what her husband wishes。 If you were not told this
you might by some impulsive opposition destroy your future。 Paul is a
weak young man； he might allow a friend to rule him； he might even
fall under the dominion of some woman who would make you feel her
influence。 Prevent such disasters by making yourself from the very
start his ruler。 Is it not better that he be governed by you than by
others？〃
〃Yes； certainly；〃 said Natalie。 〃I should think only of his
happiness。〃
〃And it is my privilege； darling； to think only of yours； and to wish
not to leave you at so crucial a moment without a compass in the midst
of the reefs through which you must steer。〃
〃But； dearest mother； are we not strong enough； you and I； to stay
together beside him； without having to fear those frowns you seem to
dread。 Paul loves you； mamma。〃
〃Oh！ oh！ He fears me more than he loves me。 Observe him carefully
to…day when I tell him that I shall let you go to Paris without me；
and you will see on his face； no matter what pains he takes to conceal
it； his inward joy。〃
〃Why should he feel so？〃
〃Why？ Dear child！ I am like Saint…Jean Bouche…d'Or。 I will tell that
to himself； and before you。〃
〃But suppose I marry on condition that you do not leave me？〃 urged
Natalie。
〃Our separation is necessary；〃 replied her mother。 〃Several
considerations have greatly changed my future。 I am now poor。 You will
lead a brilliant life in Paris； and I could not live with you suitably
without spending the little t