with an affected sweetness which made her daughter cautious for the
rest of her days。
〃It might be carried to the Court of Appeal； but our adversaries will
think twice about that；〃 replied the Abbe。
〃I never could have believed that Rosalie would think about a lawsuit
all through a dinner；〃 remarked Madame de Watteville。
〃Nor I either；〃 said Rosalie； in a dreamy way that made every one
laugh。 〃But Monsieur de Grancey was so full of it； that I was
interested。〃
The company rose from table and returned to the drawing…room。 All
through the evening Rosalie listened in case Albert Savaron should be
mentioned again； but beyond the congratulations offered by each
newcomer to the Abbe on having gained his suit； to which no one added
any praise of the advocate； no more was said about it。 Mademoiselle de
Watteville impatiently looked forward to bedtime。 She had promised
herself to wake at between two and three in the morning； and to look
at Albert's dressing…room windows。 When the hour came； she felt almost
pleasure in gazing at the glimmer from the lawyer's candles that shone
through the trees； now almost bare of their leaves。 By the help of the
strong sight of a young girl； which curiosity seems to make longer；
she saw Albert writing； and fancied she could distinguish the color of
the furniture； which she thought was red。 From the chimney above the
roof rose a thick column of smoke。
〃While all the world is sleeping； he is awakelike God！〃 thought she。
The education of girls brings with it such serious problemsfor the
future of a nation is in the motherthat the University of France
long since set itself the task of having nothing to do with it。 Here
is one of these problems： Ought girls to be informed on all points？
Ought their minds to be under restraint？ It need not be said that the
religious system is one of restraint。 If you enlighten them； you make
them demons before their time； if you keep them from thinking； you end
in the sudden explosion so well shown by Moliere in the character of
Agnes； and you leave this suppressed mind； so fresh and clear…seeing；
as swift and as logical as that of a savage； at the mercy of an
accident。 This inevitable crisis was brought on in Mademoiselle de
Watteville by the portrait which one of the most prudent Abbes of the
Chapter of Besancon imprudently allowed himself to sketch at a dinner
party。
Next morning； Mademoiselle de Watteville； while dressing； necessarily
looked out at Albert Savaron walking in the garden adjoining that of
the Hotel de Rupt。
〃What would have become of me；〃 thought she； 〃if he had lived anywhere
else？ Here I can； at any rate； see him。What is he thinking about？〃
Having seen this extraordinary man； though at a distance； the only man
whose countenance stood forth in contrast with crowds of Besancon
faces she had hitherto met with； Rosalie at once jumped at the idea of
getting into his house； of ascertaining the reason of so much mystery；
of hearing that eloquent voice； of winning a glance from those fine
eyes。 All this she set her heart on； but how could she achieve it？
All that day she drew her needle through her embroidery with the
obtuse concentration of a girl who； like Agnes； seems to be thinking
of nothing； but who is reflecting on things in general so deeply； that
her artifice is unfailing。 As a result of this profound meditation；
Rosalie thought she would go to confession。 Next morning； after Mass；
she had a brief interview with the Abbe Giroud at Saint…Pierre； and
managed so ingeniously that the hour of her confession was fixed for
Sunday morning at half…past seven； before the eight o'clock Mass。 She
committed herself to a dozen fibs in order to find herself； just for
once； in the church at the hour when the lawyer came to Mass。 Then she
was seized with an impulse of extreme affection for her father； she
went to see him in his workroom； and asked him for all sorts of
information on the art of turning； ending by advising him to turn
larger pieces； columns。 After persuading her father to set to work on
some twisted pillars； one of the difficulties of the turner's art； she
suggested that he should make use of a large heap of stones that lay
in the middle of the garden to construct a sort of grotto on which he
might erect a little temple or Belvedere in which his twisted pillars
could be used and shown off to all the world。
At the climax of the pleasure the poor unoccupied man derived from
this scheme； Rosalie said； as she kissed him； 〃Above all； do not tell
mamma who gave you the notion； she would scold me。〃
〃Do not be afraid！〃 replied Monsieur de Watteville； who groaned as
bitterly as his daughter under the tyranny of the terrible descendant
of the Rupts。
So Rosalie had a certain prospect of seeing ere long a charming
observatory built； whence her eye would command the lawyer's private
room。 And there are men for whose sake young girls can carry out such
masterstrokes of diplomacy； while； for the most part； like Albert
Savaron； they know it not。
The Sunday so impatiently looked for arrived； and Rosalie dressed with
such carefulness as made Mariette； the ladies'…maid； smile。
〃It is the first time I ever knew mademoiselle to be so fidgety；〃 said
Mariette。
〃It strikes me；〃 said Rosalie； with a glance at Mariette； which
brought poppies to her cheeks； 〃that you too are more particular on
some days than on others。〃
As she went down the steps； across the courtyard； and through the
gates； Rosalie's heart beat； as everybody's does in anticipation of a
great event。 Hitherto； she had never known what it was to walk in the
streets； for a moment she had felt as though her mother must read her
schemes on her brow； and forbid her going to confession； and she now
felt new blood in her feet； she lifted them as though she trod on
fire。 She had； of course； arranged to be with her confessor at a
quarter…past eight； telling her mother eight； so as to have about a
quarter of an hour near Albert。 She got to church before Mass； and
after a short prayer； went to see if the Abbe Giroud were in his
confessional； simply to pass the time； and she thus placed herself in
such a way as to see Albert as he came into church。
The man must have been atrociously ugly who did not seem handsome to
Mademoiselle de Watteville in the frame of mind produced by her
curiosity。 And Albert Savaron； who was really very striking； made all
the more impression on Rosalie because his mien； his walk； his
carriage； everything down to his clothing； had the indescribable stamp
which can only be expressed by the word Mystery。
He came in。 The church； till now gloomy； seemed to Rosalie to be
illuminated。 The girl was fascinated by his slow and solemn demeanor；
as of a man who bears a world on his shoulders and whose deep gaze；
whose very gestures； combine to express a devastating or absorbing
thought。 Rosalie now understood the Vicar…General's words in their
fullest extent。 Yes； those eyes of tawny brown； shot with golden
lights； covered ardor which revealed itself in sudden flashes。
Rosalie； with a recklessness which Mariette noted； stood in the
lawyer's way； so as to exchange glances with him； and this glance
turned her blood； for it seethed and boiled as though its warmth were
doubled。
As soon as Albert had taken a seat； Mademoiselle de Watteville quickly
found a place whence she could see him perfectly during all the time
the Abbe might leave her。 When Mariette said； 〃Here is Monsieur
Giroud；〃 it seemed to Rosalie that the interview had lasted no more
than a few minutes。 By the time she came out from the confessional；
Mass was over。 Albert had left the church。
〃The Vicar…General was right；〃 thought she。 〃/He/ is unhappy。 Why
should this eaglefor he has the eyes of an eagleswoop down on
Besancon？ Oh； I must know everything！ But how？〃
Under the smart of this new desire Rosalie set the stitches of her
worsted…work with exquisite precision； and hid her meditations under a
little innocent air； which shammed simplicity to deceive Madame de
Watteville。
From that Sunday； when Mademoiselle de Watteville had met that look；
or； if you please； received this baptism of firea fine expression of
Napoleon's which may be well applied to loveshe eagerly promoted the
plan for the Belvedere。
〃Mamma；〃 said she one day when two columns were turned； 〃my father has
taken a singular idea into his head； he is turning columns for a
Belvedere he intends to erect on the heap of stones in the middle of
the garden。 Do you approve of it？ It seems to me〃
〃I approve of everything your father does；〃 said Madame de Watteville
drily； 〃and it is a wife's duty to submit to her husband even if she
does not approve of his ideas。 Why should I object to a thing which is
of no importance in itself； if only it amuses Monsieur de Watteville？〃
〃Well； because from thence we shall see into Monsieur de Soulas'
rooms； and Monsieur de Soulas will see us when we are there。 Perhaps
remarks may be made〃
〃Do you presume； Rosalie； to guide your parents； and think you know
more than they do of life and the proprieties？〃
〃I say no more； mamma。 Besides； my father said that there would be a
room in the grotto； where it would be cool； and where we can take
coffee。〃
〃Your father has had an excellent idea；〃 said Madame de Watteville；
who forthwith went to look at the columns。
She gave her entire approbation to the Baron de Watteville's design；
while choosing for the erection of this monument a spot at the bottom
of the garden； which could not be seen from Monsieur de Soulas'
windows； but whence they could perfectly see into Albert Savaron's
rooms。 A builder was sent for； who undertook to construct a grotto； of
which the top should be reached by a path three feet wide through the
rock…work； where periwinkles would grow； iris； clematis； ivy；
honeysuckle； and Virginia creeper。 The Baroness desired that the
inside should be lined with rustic wood…work； such as was then the
fashion for flower…stands； with a looking…glass against the wall； an
ottoman forming a box； and a table of inlaid bark。 Monsieur de Soulas
proposed that the floor should be of asphalt。 Rosalie suggested a
hanging chandelie