"Nothing,--nothing! and yet you are as dull and melancholy as death. Supposing I have been wrong, you are making me sensible of it in the most cruel manner." "I am trying to forget it; and, perhaps, one day----" "The perspective is agreeable." "That is no fault of mine; but do not let us talk about it. You know that I have plenty of cause for sorrow." "Are you referring now to your father? You must at least confess that he was excessively violent with me." "He loves me so tenderly, that he even exaggerated what you had done. He has but me in the whole world; and so, Charles, I cannot believe that you really mean in future to refuse me permission to go and see him as usual." "My dear little Bertha, you are so pretty, that I must lay some conditions on my promise." "Ah, Charles, be generous without stipulations." "What you say is very flattering," said M. de Brévannes abruptly; then, he continued, in a milder tone, "Well, well, we will see. You do with me just as you like, and I consent." "Really, really, I may go to my father," said Bertha, turning towards him with her eyes sparkling, and her countenance almost restored to happiness. M. de Brévannes glanced at the back of the box, placed his hands on his eyes, and said laughingly,-- "If I am to keep my promise, I must not look at you." "Ah, thanks, a thousand thanks, Charles, and now I shall be so happy all the evening." "That is to say, so handsome. So much the better, for my self-esteem as a husband will have nothing now to apprehend from the vicinity of Madame Girard." "I do not pretend to rival with her; but how late she is. Are you sure she received the coupon you sent her two days ago?" "Yes, for I gave it to Girard himself; but to keep up her character as the 'observed of all observers,' Madame Girard will not come until after every one else, in order to produce an effect." "Charles, you are slanderous." "Because Madame Girard is so ridiculous, and spoils a really pretty face by the most absurd pretensions. She has but one thought, that of imitating, or rather parodying with silly minuteness, the costume of Madame de Luceval, because she is the most fashionable woman in Paris." "Yes, you have before spoken to me of this peculiarity of Madame Girard. I should very much like to see Madame de Luceval--the Marquise de Luceval, I think. They say she is a very charming woman." "Very charming, very original; dressing as no other woman but herself could venture to dress; and yet that little fool Madame Girard copies her to her very shoe-tie, under the pretext of being very much like her." "And is she?" "Yes," replied De Brévannes, "as a goose resembles a swan."