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
conceive of the state of violent agitation in which Madame Guillaume
found herself--she, who flattered herself on having brought up her
daughters to perfection--on discovering in Augustine a clandestine
passion of which her prudery and ignorance exaggerated the perils. She
believed her daughter to be cankered to the core.
Pages:
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50