"About love such as I understand it? no! you are too pretty, you see, and then you are too much fêted and adored by everyone to be able, as I have done, to satisfy and content yourself with an immense affection for one person only."
"It must be so happy, though, to love anyone like that."
"Well, it would be easy enough for you; your cousin M. de Blaye adores you. Oh, it is no use denying it--it is so perfectly evident; I saw it instantly."
"You are dreaming--" said Bijou, looking astounded.
"Oh, dear, no! he is in love with you, madly in love with you, and he seems to me to be a man worthy of your love."
"Instead of talking nonsense, finish telling me the story of your engagement. We had got as far as where you left Bordeaux, thinking that all was over. What next?"
"Well, next, a fortnight ago, the professorship of philosophy was vacant, and papa was surprised to hear that M. Spiegel had been appointed to it. 'It is a come-down,' he said to me, 'for Pont-sur-Loire is not as good as Bordeaux'; but not at all--it was no come-down."
"It was he himself, then, who had asked for the change?"
"Exactly! and last Monday, he and his mother arrived at our house to ask papa's consent."
"Very nice, and good-looking still; but she seems rather severe, a little bit hard."
"Don't take any notice of that; Protestants always appear like that."
"How do you know that she is a Protestant?"
"Because I suppose that she is of the same religion as her son."
"But who told you that M. Spiegel is a Protestant?"
"No one. I discovered that all alone; it did not take me long either--"
"I do not know anything, and yet you see I do know all the same; it's a very good thing to be able to marry a Protestant; they are less frivolous, more serious, and more constant."
"Yes, perhaps so; but his mother, as I told you looks very severe, very; and she is going to live with us."
"Oh, well, so much the better. It is a safe-guard, don't you know, to have a mother with you who is somewhat austere. In the first place, she will inspire everyone with respect for you."
"I don't think I need anyone to inspire people with respect for me, and, anyhow, it seems to me that if I did, why, my husband would be--"
"Not at all! oh, no! parents are quite different, and I was brought up to worship my parents, and to believe that their presence brings not only respect but happiness into the home."