"Can you think so? Answer Monsieur Perrin. He has just done us a kind
office, mother."

"I shall remember it. Monsieur, permit me to regret that having lately
won our gratitude and esteem, you have taken this way of modifying those
feelings. But after all," she added with gentle courtesy, "we may well
put your good deeds against this--this error in judgment. The balance is
in your favor still, provided you never return to this topic. Come,
is it agreed?" The baroness's manner was full of tact, and the latter
sentences were said with an open kindliness of manner. There was nothing
to prevent Perrin from dropping the subject, and remaining good friends.
A gentleman or a lover would have so done. Monsieur Perrin was neither.
He said bitterly, "You refuse me, then."

The tone and the words were each singly too much for the baroness's
pride. She answered coldly but civilly,--

"I do not refuse you. I do not take an affront into consideration."

"Be calm, mamma; no affront whatever was intended."

"Ah! here is one that is more reasonable," cried Perrin.

"There are men," continued Josephine without noticing him, "who look
to but one thing--interest. It was an offer made politely in the way of
business: decline it in the same spirit; that is what you have to do."

"Monsieur, you hear what mademoiselle says? She carries politeness
a long way. After all it is a good fault. Well, monsieur, I need not