Part 15 (1/2)
”Come, Philip, show a little firmness,” said the queen-enerally an individual who is the cause of it Aht?”
”I do not say no, madae”
”In fact, ht possibly have to say must be kept a profound secret; for when a lady is in the case-”
”Ah! you are speaking of Mada of the liveliest curiosity
”Yes”
”Well, then, if you wish to speak of Madame, do not hesitate to do so I aer to hter-in-law, rest assured I shall be interested, even were it for your own sake alone, in hearing all you may have to say about her”
”Pray tell me, ?”
”'Sohten ?'”
”Madame is pretty, certainly”
”No doubt of it”
”Yet not altogether beautiful”
”No, but as she grows older, she will probably becoe which a few years have already made in her Her beauty will ie At fifteen I was, myself, very thin; but even as she is at present, Madame is very pretty”
”And consequently others have remarked it”
”Undoubtedly, for a woreater reason a princess”
”She has been well brought up, I suppose?”
”Madame Henriette, her htly pretentious, but full of noble thoughts The princess's education ood Such at least was the opinion I formed of her when she resided in France; but she afterwards returned to England, and I anorant what may have occurred there”
”What do you iddy, which are easily turned by prosperity”
”That is the very word, iddy”
”We erate, Philip; she is clever and witty, and has a certain a woh rank and position, is a great advantage at a court A princess who is tinged with coquetry usually forms a brilliant court; her se; the nobles, too, fight better for a prince whose wife is beautiful”
”Thank you extremely, madame,” said Philip, with so pictures for me”
”In what respect?” asked the queen, with pretended simplicity
”You know, madame,” said Philip, dolefully, ”whether I had or had not a very great dislike to getting married”
”Now, indeed, you alarainst Madame”
”I do not precisely say it is serious”
”In that case, then, throw aside your doleful looks If you show yourself to others in your present state, people will take you for a very unhappy husband”
”The fact is,” replied Philip, ”I aether satisfied as a husband, and I shall not be sorry if others know it”
”For shame, Philip”
”Well, then, madame, I will tell you frankly that I do not understand the life I am required to lead”
”Explain yourself”
”My wife does not see s there are visits, correspondences, and toilettes; in the evenings, balls and concerts”
”You are jealous, Philip”
”I! Heaven forbid Let others act the part of a jealous husband, not I But I as you reproach your ith are perfectly innocent, and, so long as you have nothing of greater i very blaood deal of uneasiness Certain visitorswoh to drive out of their senses even those husbands who are least disposed to be jealous”
”Ah! noe are co to the real point at last, and not without some difficulty You speak of frequent visits, and certain preferences-very good; for the last hour we have been beating about the bush, and at last you have broached the true question”
”Well then, yes-”
”This is ht It is possible, then, that Madaainst her?”
”Precisely so”
”What, your wife, o, prefers soerate your grievances; in wishi+ng to prove everything, you prove nothing”
The prince, bewildered by his mother's serious manner, wished to reply, but he could only staible words
”You draw back, then?” said Anne of Austria ”I prefer that, as it is an acknowledgement of your mistake”
”No!” exclaimed Philip, ”I do not draw back, and I will prove all I asserted I spoke of preference and of visits, did I not? Well, listen”
Anne of Austria prepared herself to listen, with that love of gossip which the best wo and the bestmixed up with the petty squabbles of a household