"You will see. Besides, you have seen for eight days."

"The first eight days don't count."

"I will continue, rest assured. I love you, besides. I love you, and do
you know why? It is because you are not a man of the past; you are
distinctly modern, very modern. Look at him, Aunt Louise. Isn't he very
nice, very well turned out, very modern, in fact--I repeat it--in his
little pearl-gray suit. He is devoted to his clothes. He consults for
hours and hours with his tailor, which delights me, for I intend to
consult for hours and hours with my dress-maker. And he will pay the
bills without a tremor, for he will be charmed to see me very stylish
and very much admired. Ah, we shall make the most brilliant and most
giddy little couple! He is modern, I shall be modern, we shall be
modern! After three, four, or five weeks (we do not know exactly)
dedicated to pure love, we shall take flight towards the country, where
one has a good time; and then we shall be talked about, Aunt Louise, we
shall be talked about. And now, where was I in my story? I am sure I do
not know at all."

"Nor I."

"Nor I."

"Ah, I know. Mme. de Courtalin had come to ask my hand for her honorable
son, and when mamma had spoken to me of that I had exclaimed, 'Sooner
the convent!' I do not know exactly what mamma said to Mme. de
Courtalin--at any rate, I was left alone for the time being. There was a
rush to the Grand Prix, and then a general breaking-up. We went to spend
a month at Aix-les-Bains for papa's complaint, and then a fortnight