"That Monsieur Batonnin, with his soft-spoken ways, always has something unkind to say," muttered Madame de Mirallon. "And he smears honey on his words, to make them go down; that's the custom." Adolphine had walked mechanically to the piano; she was suffering intensely, she would have liked to leave the salon, but she dared not, because it would have worried her father. To make her misery complete, Monsieur Batonnin joined her. "Are we going to have the pleasure of hearing you sing, mademoiselle?" "No, monsieur; I could not possibly sing; I have a very sore throat." "I trust, mademoiselle, that you are not still offended with me because I thought that you looked ill?" "Oh! not at all, monsieur; indeed, I think that you must have been right, for I don't feel very well this evening." "Madame your sister is well enough for two, I judge, she is in such good spirits; she seems to be talking a good deal with that gentleman. Isn't he the same one who was with you one morning when I came to your room with your father?" "Yes, monsieur; that is he." "He was very dismal then; it seems that his gloom has disappeared, for he is laughing heartily with your sister. Are they acquainted?" "Why, to be sure; Monsieur Gustave is an old friend of ours." "Very good! I said to myself: 'Madame Monleard doesn't stand much on ceremony with that young man; he must be an old acquaintance, at least.'" To avoid listening any longer to Monsieur Batonnin, Adolphine seated herself by the whist table, and pretended to watch the game; but, sit where she would, she heard her sister's exclamations, whispering, and laughter, and the evening seemed endless to her. At last the clock struck eleven; Fanny rose and prepared to take her leave. Gustave looked at her, as if undecided as to what he should do, but the young widow observed: "Monsieur Clairval is playing whist; besides, I don't want him always to have the trouble of going home with me; and as Monsieur Gustave is here, perhaps he would be willing to escort me as far as my door." Gustave's face beamed; he hastened to say that he should be too happy to offer her his arm. Whereupon, Fanny made haste to say good-night to her father and sister. The young man, in his turn, went to Adolphine, and said to her in an undertone: "Dear little sister, I am a very happy man! She has given me permission to call on her; she has even given me to understand that she regrets having refused to marry me; in short, she is touched by my constancy." "It is well; be happy, that is my dearest wish; and, above all things, go to my sister's; that will be much better, believe me, than to come to court her here." Gustave was about to reply, but Fanny called him and took him away. Thereupon Adolphine went to her room, saying to herself: