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smoky office； pressing his future father…in…law's hand； after saying
with a knowing look that all would turn out for the best。
〃What will Madame Guillaume say to it？〃 was the idea that greatly
troubled the worthy merchant when he found himself alone。
At breakfast Madame Guillaume and Virginie； to whom the draper had not
yet confided his disappointment； cast meaning glances at Joseph Lebas；
who was extremely embarrassed。 The young assistant's bashfulness
commended him to his mother…in…law's good graces。 The matron became so
cheerful that she smiled as she looked at her husband； and allowed
herself some little pleasantries of time…honored acceptance in such
simple families。 She wondered whether Joseph or Virginie were the
taller； to ask them to compare their height。 This preliminary fooling
brought a cloud to the master's brow； and he even made such a point of
decorum that he desired Augustine to take the assistant's arm on their
way to Saint…Leu。 Madame Guillaume； surprised at this manly delicacy；
honored her husband with a nod of approval。 So the procession left the
house in such order as to suggest no suspicious meaning to the
neighbors。
〃Does it not seem to you； Mademoiselle Augustine；〃 said the assistant；
and he trembled； 〃that the wife of a merchant whose credit is as good
as Monsieur Guillaume's； for instance； might enjoy herself a little
more than Madame your mother does？ Might wear diamondsor keep a
carriage？ For my part； if I were to marry； I should be glad to take
all the work； and see my wife happy。 I would not put her into the
counting…house。 In the drapery business； you see； a woman is not so
necessary now as formerly。 Monsieur Guillaume was quite right to act
as he didand besides； his wife liked it。 But so long as a woman
knows how to turn her hand to the book…keeping； the correspondence；
the retail business； the orders； and her housekeeping； so as not to
sit idle； that is enough。 At seven o'clock； when the shop is shut； I
shall take my pleasures； go to the play； and into company。But you
are not listening to me。〃
〃Yes； indeed； Monsieur Joseph。 What do you think of painting？ That is
a fine calling。〃
〃Yes。 I know a master house…painter； Monsieur Lourdois。 He is well…to…
do。〃
Thus conversing； the family reached the Church of Saint…Leu。 There
Madame Guillaume reasserted her rights； and； for the first time；
placed Augustine next herself； Virginie taking her place on the fourth
chair； next to Lebas。 During the sermon all went well between
Augustine and Theodore； who； standing behind a pillar； worshiped his
Madonna with fervent devotion； but at the elevation of the Host；
Madame Guillaume discovered； rather late； that her daughter Augustine
was holding her prayer…book upside down。 She was about to speak to her
strongly； when； lowering her veil； she interrupted her own devotions
to look in the direction where her daughter's eyes found attraction。
By the help of her spectacles she saw the young artist； whose
fashionable elegance seemed to proclaim him a cavalry officer on leave
rather than a tradesman of the neighborhood。 It is difficult to
conceive of the state of violent agitation in which Madame Guillaume
found herselfshe； who flattered herself on having brought up her
daughters to perfectionon discovering in Augustine a clandestine
passion of which her prudery and ignorance exaggerated the perils。 She
believed her daughter to be cankered to the core。
〃Hold your book right way up； miss；〃 she muttered in a low voice；
tremulous with wrath。 She snatched away the tell…tale prayer…book and
returned it with the letter…press right way up。 〃Do not allow your
eyes to look anywhere but at your prayers；〃 she added； 〃or I shall
have something to say to you。 Your father and I will talk to you after
church。〃
These words came like a thunderbolt on poor Augustine。 She felt faint；
but； torn between the distress she felt and the dread of causing a
commotion in church she bravely concealed her anguish。 It was；
however； easy to discern the stormy state of her soul from the
trembling of her prayer…book； and the tears which dropped on every
page she turned。 From the furious glare shot at him by Madame
Guillaume the artist saw the peril into which his love affair had
fallen； he went out； with a raging soul； determined to venture all。
〃Go to your room； miss！〃 said Madame Guillaume； on their return home；
〃we will send for you； but take care not to quit it。〃
The conference between the husband and wife was conducted so secretly
that at first nothing was heard of it。 Virginie； however； who had
tried to give her sister courage by a variety of gentle remonstrances；
carried her good nature so far as to listen at the door of her
mother's bedroom where the discussion was held； to catch a word or
two。 The first time she went down to the lower floor she heard her
father exclaim； 〃Then； madame； do you wish to kill your daughter？〃
〃My poor dear！〃 said Virginie； in tears； 〃papa takes your part。〃
〃And what do they want to do to Theodore？〃 asked the innocent girl。
Virginie； inquisitive； went down again； but this time she stayed
longer； she learned that Joseph Lebas loved Augustine。 It was written
that on this memorable day； this house； generally so peaceful； should
be a hell。 Monsieur Guillaume brought Joseph Lebas to despair by
telling him of Augustine's love for a stranger。 Lebas； who had advised
his friend to become a suitor for Mademoiselle Virginie； saw all his
hopes wrecked。 Mademoiselle Virginie； overcome by hearing that Joseph
had； in a way； refused her； had a sick headache。 The dispute that had
arisen from the discussion between Monsieur and Madame Guillaume；
when； for the third time in their lives； they had been of antagonistic
opinions； had shown itself in a terrible form。 Finally； at half…past
four in the afternoon； Augustine； pale； trembling； and with red eyes；
was haled before her father and mother。 The poor child artlessly
related the too brief tale of her love。 Reassured by a speech from her
father； who promised to listen to her in silence； she gathered courage
as she pronounced to her parents the name of Theodore de Sommervieux；
with a mischievous little emphasis on the aristocratic /de/。 And
yielding to the unknown charm of talking of her feelings； she was
brave enough to declare with innocent decision that she loved Monsieur
de Sommervieux； that she had written to him； and she added； with tears
in her eyes： 〃To sacrifice me to another man would make me wretched。〃
〃But； Augustine； you cannot surely know what a painter is？〃 cried her
mother with horror。
〃Madame Guillaume！〃 said the old man； compelling her to silence。
〃Augustine；〃 he went on； 〃artists are generally little better than
beggars。 They are too extravagant not to be always a bad sort。 I
served the late Monsieur Joseph Vernet； the late Monsieur Lekain； and
the late Monsieur Noverre。 Oh； if you could only know the tricks
played on poor Father Chevrel by that Monsieur Noverre； by the
Chevalier de Saint…Georges； and especially by Monsieur Philidor！ They
are a set of rascals； I know them well！ They all have a gab and nice
manners。 Ah； your Monsieur Sumer；