mamma that her son knew of nothing more delightful than my face. I
answered that I knew of nothing less delightful than M. de Courtalin's
face. I added that, besides, I was in no hurry to marry. Mamma tried to
make me hear reason. I was going to let slip an admirable chance. The
Duke of Courtalin was the target of all the ambitious mothers--a great
name, a great position, a great fortune! I should deeply regret some day
to have shown such disdain for advantages like these, etc. And to all
these things, which were so true and sensible, I could find only one
word to say: his name, Gontran, Gontran, Gontran! Gontran or the
convent, and the most rigorous one of all, the Carmel, in sackcloth and
ashes! Oh, Aunt Louise, do look at him! He listens to all this with an
unbearable little air of fatuity."

"You have forbidden me to speak."

"True. Don't speak; but you have deserved a little lesson in modesty and
humility. Good gracious! you think perhaps it was for your merits that I
chose you, insisted on you. You would be far from the mark, my poor
dear. It is, on the contrary, because of your want of merit. Now, as to
M. de Courtalin. Why, there is a man of merit! I had, from morning to
night, M. de Courtalin's merit dinned into my ears, and that was why I
had taken a dislike to him. What I dreaded more than anything for a
husband was what is called a superior man; and mamma went the wrong way
to work to win me over to her candidate when she said to me: 'He is a
very intelligent, very serious, very deep-thinking, and very
distinguished man; he has spent his youth honorably; he has been a model
son, and would make a model husband.' It made me shiver to hear mamma
talk so. I know nothing more awful than people who are always, always
right; who, under all circumstances, give evidence of unfailing good
sense; who crush us with their superiority. With Gontran I am easy,