Part 40 (2/2)
”At present, he is not very far gone, but there is considerable progress; he is preparing to follow in the pathway which has been beaten out by others.”
”Just lately, when you were talking to me about Bijou getting married, had you any idea in the background?” asked the marchioness, looking at Madame de Rueille.
Bertrade repeated the question without replying to it.
”An idea in the background?”
”Yes. Were you, for instance, thinking that Bijou was in love with this young Bernes?”
”I told you that same day, grandmamma, that it is my belief Bijou is not in love, never has been in love, and never will be in love with anyone.”
”If you had said that, as you say it now, I should most certainly have protested. It would be impossible, in my opinion, to be more absolutely and completely mistaken than you are. Never to love anyone?--Bijou!--when there never was anyone who needed to be loved and petted as she does.”
”She needs to be loved and petted--yes, I grant that; but she always requires people to love and pet her, and she does not feel the need of loving and petting others in her turn.”
”In other words, she is selfish and cold-hearted?” questioned the marchioness, her voice suddenly taking a harsh tone. ”The fact is, Bertrade, you have a grudge against Bijou, because of the charm there is about her: you are angry with her, because no one can resist being fascinated by her, and instead of blaming Paul, who is the real culprit, you accuse the poor child in this cruel way.”
”I do not accuse Bijou any more than I do Paul, grandmamma: and I should be all the less likely to accuse them, because I do not think that we are exactly free agents in such matters; yes, I know that you will be scandalised at my saying such a thing--I can see that very well. You think it is blasphemy, don't you? And yet, Heaven knows that the thoughts which come to me sometimes on this subject make me much more tolerant and indulgent towards others--”
M. de Clagny approached the two ladies just at this moment.
”What are you two plotting in this little corner?”
”Nothing,” said Madame de Bracieux; ”we were watching Bijou, who seems to be taming your young friend Bernes.”
”Taming him? Whatever do you mean by that?” asked the count, turning round with a disturbed look on his face.
”Well, I mean just what everyone means when they make that remark! A week ago, when the young man dined here with us, he was like an icicle; well, I fancy that the thaw has set in.”
”Oh!” exclaimed M. de Clagny, suddenly looking serene again; ”I forgot that he has a love affair, and is so far gone that he fully intends to marry this lady-love; and, as you can imagine, his father is not delighted about it, by any means.” And then, in an absent-minded way, he added, ”I feel perfectly easy, as far as he is concerned!”
”Easy!” exclaimed Madame de Bracieux in astonishment ”Why, easy! you would not like Bijou to marry M. de Bernes, then? Why not?”
”Well--she is so young,” he stammered out, in a confused sort of way.
”How do you mean, so young? She is quite old enough to marry; she will be twenty-two in November, Bijou!”
”Well, then, Hubert is too young for her; he is only a lad!”
”I should certainly prefer seeing her married to a man rather more settled down; but, if she should care for him, he is of good family, and is wealthy, why should she not marry him as well as any other?”
”Do you really think that Bijou cares for him?” asked M. de Clagny anxiously.
”I don't know anything about it at all,” answered the marchioness, laughing; ”but anyhow, what can that matter to you? I can understand that Jean or Henry should be disturbed in their minds--but you?” As he did not reply, she went on: ”It's a case of the dog in the manger: he does not want the bone himself, but he does not want the others to have it either. That is just your case, my poor friend, for, I presume, you have no idea of marrying Bijou yourself?”
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