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and； in common with the Latin poet； I may say； 'Claudite jam rivos；
pueri； sat prata biberunt。'〃
Thus elevated in the character of its habitues； the salon Thuillier
still needed a new element of life。 Thanks to the help of Madame de
Godollo； a born organizer； who successfully put to profit the former
connection of Colleville with the musical world； a few artists came to
make diversion from bouillotte and boston。 Old…fashioned and
venerable； those two games were forced to beat a retreat before whist；
the only manner； said the Hungarian countess； in which respectable
people can kill time。
Like Louis XVI。； who began by putting his own hand to reforms which
subsequently engulfed his throne； Brigitte had encouraged； at first；
this domestic revolution； the need of sustaining her position suitably
in the new quarter to which she had emigrated had made her docile to
all suggestions of comfort and elegance。 But the day on which occurred
the scene we are about to witness； an apparently trivial detail had
revealed to her the danger of the declivity on which she stood。 The
greater number of the new guests； recently imported by Thuillier； knew
nothing of his sister's supremacy in his home。 On arrival； therefore；
they all asked Thuillier to present them to MADAME； and； naturally；
Thuillier could not say to them that his wife was a figure…head who
groaned under the iron hand of a Richelieu； to whom the whole
household bent the knee。 It was therefore not until the first homage
rendered to the sovereign 〃de jure〃 was paid； that the new…comers were
led up to Brigitte； and by reason of the stiffness which displeasure
at this misplacement of power gave to her greeting they were scarcely
encouraged to pay her any further attentions。 Quick to perceive this
species of overthrow； Queen Elizabeth said to herself； with that
profound instinct of domination which was her ruling passion：
〃If I don't take care I shall soon be nobody in this house。〃
Burrowing into that idea； she came to think that if the project of
making a common household with la Peyrade； then Celeste's husband；
were carried out； the situation which was beginning to alarm her would
become even worse。 From that moment； and by sudden intuition； Felix
Phellion； that good young man； with his head too full of mathematics
ever to become a formidable rival to her sovereignty； seemed to her a
far better match than the enterprising lawyer； and she was the first；
on seeing the Phellion father and mother arrive without the son； to
express regret at his absence。 Brigitte； however； was not the only one
to feel the injury that the luckless professor was doing to his
prospects in thus keeping away from her reception。 Madame Thuillier；
with simple candor； and Celeste with feigned reserve； both made
manifest their displeasure。 As for Madame de Godollo； who； in spite of
a very remarkable voice； usually required much pressing before she
would sing （the piano having been opened since her reign began）； she
now went up to Madame Phellion and asked her to accompany her； and
between two verses of a song she said in her ear：
〃Why isn't your son here？〃
〃He is coming；〃 said Madame Phellion。 〃His father talked to him very
decidedly； but to…night there happens to be a conjunction of I don't
know what planets； it is a great night at the Observatory； and he did
not feel willing to dispense with〃
〃It is inconceivable that a man should be so foolish！〃 exclaimed
Madame de Godollo； 〃wasn't theology bad enough； that he must needs
bring in astronomy too？〃
And her vexation gave to her voice so vibrating a tone that her song
ended in the midst of what the English call a thunder of applause。 La
Peyrade； who feared her extremely； was not one of the last； when she
returned to her place； to approach her； and express his admiration；
but she received his compliments with a coldness so near to incivility
that their mutual hostility was greatly increased。 La Peyrade turned
away to console himself with Madame Colleville； who had still too many
pretensions to beauty not to be the enemy of a woman made to intercept
all homage。
〃So you also； you think that woman sings well？〃 she said；
contemptuously； to Theodose。
〃At any rate； I have been to tell her so；〃 replied la Peyrade；
〃because without her； in regard to Brigitte； there's no security。 But
do just look at your Celeste； her eyes never leave that door； and
every time a tray is brought in； though it is an hour at least since
the last guest came； her face expresses disappointment。〃
We must remark； in passing； that since the reign of Madame de Godollo
trays were passed round on the Sunday reception days； and that without
scrimping； on the contrary； they were laden with ices； cakes； and
syrups； from Taurade's； then the best confectioner。
〃Don't harass me！〃 cried Flavie。 〃I know very well what that foolish
girl has in her mind； and your marriage will take place only too
soon。〃
〃But you know it is not for myself I make it；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃it is
a necessity for the future of all of us。 Come； come； there are tears
in your eyes！ I shall leave you； you are not reasonable。 The devil！ as
that Prudhomme of a Phellion says； 'Whoso wants the end wants the
means。'〃
And he went toward the group composed of Celeste； Madame Thuillier；
Madame de Godollo； Colleville； and Phellion。 Madame Colleville
followed him； and； under the influence of the feeling of jealousy she
had just shown； she became a savage mother。
〃Celeste；〃 she said； 〃why don't you sing？ These gentlemen wish to hear
you。〃
〃Oh； mamma！〃 cried the girl； 〃how can I sing after Madame de Godollo；
with my poor thread of a voice？ Besides； you know I have a cold。〃
〃That is to say that； as usual； you make yourself pretentious and
disagreeable； people sing as they can sing； all voices have their own
merits。〃
〃My dear；〃 said Colleville； who； having just lost twenty francs at the
card…tables； found courage in his ill…humor to oppose his wife； 〃that
saying； 'People sing as they can sing' is a bourgeois maxim。 People
sing with a voice； if they have one； but they don't sing after hearing
such a magnificent opera voice as that of Madame la comtesse。 For my
part； I readily excuse Celeste for not warbling to us one of her
sentimental little ditties。〃
〃Then it is well worth while；〃 said Flavie； leaving the group； 〃to
spend so much money on expensive masters who are good for nothing。〃
〃So；〃 said Colleville； resuming the conversation which the invasion of
Flavie had interrupted； 〃Felix no longer inhabits this earth； he lives
among the stars？〃
〃My dear and former colleague；〃 said Phellion； 〃I am； as you are；
annoyed with my son for neglecting； as he does； the oldest friends of
his family； and though the contemplation of those great luminous
bodies suspended in space by the hand of the Creator presents； in my
opinion； higher interest than it appears to have to your more eager
brain； I think that Felix； by not coming here to…night； as he promised
me he would； shows a want of propriety； about which； I can assure you
I shall speak my mind。〃
〃Science；〃 said la Peyrade； 〃is a fine thing； but it has；
unfortunately； th