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There is no good quality which； if properly developed by the hand of
an able master； will not stifle defects； especially in a young girl
who loves him。 But to render ductile so intractable a woman； the iron
wrist； about which de Marsay had preached to Paul； was needful。 The
Parisian dandy was right。 Fear； inspired by love is an infallible
instrument by which to manage the minds of women。 Whoso loves； fears；
whoso fears is nearer to affection than to hatred。
Had Paul the coolness； firmness； and judgment required for this
struggle； which an able husband ought not to let the wife suspect？ Did
Natalie love Paul？ Like most young girls； Natalie mistook for love the
first emotions of instinct and the pleasure she felt in Paul's
external appearance； but she knew nothing of the things of marriage
nor the demands of a home。 To her； the Comte de Manerville； a rising
diplomatist； to whom the courts of Europe were known； and one of the
most elegant young men in Paris； could not seem； what perhaps he was；
an ordinary man； without moral force； timid； though brave in some
ways； energetic perhaps in adversity； but helpless against the
vexations and annoyances that hinder happiness。 Would she； in after
years； have sufficient tact and insight to distinguish Paul's noble
qualities in the midst of his minor defects？ Would she not magnify the
latter and forget the former； after the manner of young wives who know
nothing of life？ There comes a time when wives will pardon defects in
the husband who spares her annoyances； considering annoyances in the
same category as misfortunes。 What conciliating power； what wise
experience would uphold and enlighten the home of this young pair？
Paul and his wife would doubtless think they loved when they had
really not advanced beyond the endearments and compliments of the
honeymoon。 Would Paul in that early period yield to the tyranny of his
wife； instead of establishing his empire？ Could Paul say； 〃No？〃 All
was peril to a man so weak where even a strong man ran some risks。
The subject of this Study is not the transition of a bachelor into a
married man；a picture which； if broadly composed； would not lack the
attraction which the inner struggles of our nature and feelings give
to the commonest situations in life。 The events and the ideas which
led to the marriage of Paul with Natalie Evangelista are an
introduction to our real subject； which is to sketch the great comedy
that precedes； in France； all conjugal pairing。 This Scene； until now
singularly neglected by our dramatic authors； although it offers novel
resources to their wit； controlled Paul's future life and was now
awaited by Madame Evangelista with feelings of terror。 We mean the
discussion which takes place on the subject of the marriage contract
in all families； whether noble or bourgeois； for human passions are as
keenly excited by small interests as by large ones。 These comedies；
played before a notary； all resemble； more or less； the one we shall
now relate； the interest of which will be far less in the pages of
this book than in the memories of married persons。
CHAPTER III
THE MARRIAGE CONTRACTFIRST DAY
At the beginning of the winter of 1822； Paul de Manerville made a
formal request； through his great…aunt； the Baronne de Maulincour； for
the hand of Mademoiselle Natalie Evangelista。 Though the baroness
never stayed more than two months in Medoc； she remained on this
occasion till the last of October； in order to assist her nephew
through the affair and play the part of a mother to him。 After
conveying the first suggestions to Madame Evangelista the experienced
old woman returned to inform Paul of the results of the overture。
〃My child；〃 she said； 〃the affair is won。 In talking of property； I
found that Madame Evangelista gives nothing of her own to her
daughter。 Mademoiselle Natalie's dowry is her patrimony。 Marry her； my
dear boy。 Men who have a name and an estate to transmit； a family to
continue； must； sooner or later； end in marriage。 I wish I could see
my dear Auguste taking that course。 You can now carry on the marriage
without me； I have nothing to give you but my blessing； and women as
old as I are out of place at a wedding。 I leave for Paris to…morrow。
When you present your wife in society I shall be able to see her and
assist her far more to the purpose than now。 If you had had no house
in Paris I would gladly have arranged the second floor of mine for
you。〃
〃Dear aunt；〃 said Paul； 〃I thank you heartily。 But what do you mean
when you say that the mother gives nothing of her own； and that the
daughter's dowry is her patrimony？〃
〃The mother； my dear boy； is a sly cat； who takes advantage of her
daughter's beauty to impose conditions and allow you only that which
she cannot prevent you from having； namely； the daughter's fortune
from her father。 We old people know the importance of inquiring
closely； What has he？ What has she？ I advise you therefore to give
particular instructions to your notary。 The marriage contract； my dear
child； is the most sacred of all duties。 If your father and your
mother had not made their bed properly you might now be sleeping
without sheets。 You will have children； they are the commonest result
of marriage； and you must think of them。 Consult Maitre Mathias our
old notary。〃
Madame de Maulincour departed； having plunged Paul into a state of
extreme perplexity。 His mother…in…law a sly cat！ Must he struggle for
his interests in the marriage contract？ Was it necessary to defend
them？ Who was likely to attack them？
He followed the advice of his aunt and confided the drawing…up of the
marriage contract to Maitre Mathias。 But these threatened discussions
oppressed him； and he went to see Madame Evangelista and announce his
intentions in a state of rather lively agitation。 Like all timid men；
he shrank from allowing the distrust his aunt had put into his mind to
be seen； in fact； he considered it insulting。 To avoid even a slight
jar with a person so imposing to his mind as his future mother…in…law；
he proceeded to state his intentions with the circumlocution natural
to persons who dare not face a difficulty。
〃Madame；〃 he said； choosing a moment when Natalie was absent from the
room； 〃you know； of course； what a family notary is。 Mine is a worthy
old man； to whom it would be a sincere grief if he were not entrusted
with the drawing of my marriage contract。〃
〃Why； of course！〃 said Madame Evangelista； interrupting him； 〃but are
not marriage contracts always made by agreement of the notaries of
both families？〃
The time that Paul took to reply to this question was occupied by
Madame Evangelista in asking herself； 〃What is he thinking of？〃 for
women possess in an eminent degree the art of reading thoughts from
the play of countenance。 She divined the instigations of the great…
aunt in the embarrassed glance and the agitated tone of voice which
betrayed a