carriage? For my part, if I were to marry, I should be glad to take
all the work, and see my wife happy. I would not put her into the
counting-house. In the drapery business, you see, a woman is not so
necessary now as formerly. Monsieur Guillaume was quite right to act
as he did--and besides, his wife liked it. But so long as a woman
knows how to turn her hand to the book-keeping, the correspondence,
the retail business, the orders, and her housekeeping, so as not to
sit idle, that is enough. At seven o'clock, when the shop is shut, I
shall take my pleasures, go to the play, and into company.--But you
are not listening to me."

"Yes, indeed, Monsieur Joseph. What do you think of painting? That is
a fine calling."

"Yes. I know a master house-painter, Monsieur Lourdois. He is
well-to-do."

Thus conversing, the family reached the Church of Saint-Leu. There
Madame Guillaume reasserted her rights, and, for the first time,
placed Augustine next herself, Virginie taking her place on the fourth
chair, next to Lebas. During the sermon all went well between
Augustine and Theodore, who, standing behind a pillar, worshiped his
Madonna with fervent devotion; but at the elevation of the Host,
Madame Guillaume discovered, rather late, that her daughter Augustine
was holding her prayer-book upside down. She was about to speak to her
strongly, when, lowering her veil, she interrupted her own devotions
to look in the direction where her daughter's eyes found attraction.
By the help of her spectacles she saw the young artist, whose
fashionable elegance seemed to proclaim him a cavalry officer on leave
rather than a tradesman of the neighborhood. It is difficult to