"My Robare, my nephew, my son!" she cried in a choked voice, "I want the
best that earth and heaven can give to you; and you--you do push over my
ambitions, and expect that I will at once be glad and gay."
"But, auntie, you admire her too."
"I do, Robare; she is good and fair to see; but you must of the others
take thought too, and she does need many teachings, dear."
"You'll teach her, auntie?"
"Oh, be quiet, then!" pushing him pettishly away. "Of what use to argue
with a man so enamoured? Go thy Western way; obey me, and I will tell
you every week all that there is to tell. Are you content?"
"I'll have to be," laughing a little at her expression; "but remember,"
turning in the doorway, "if I don't hear, I shall immediately find that
business compels an Eastern trip." And, shaking a warning finger at her,
he disappeared to his packing in an opposite apartment.
Madame Grandet, meanwhile, resumed her work, and held it till the door
had closed behind the young man. Then she dropped it, her smiles
vanished, and she grew grave and thoughtful; for, though far less
worldly than many, she was too much of a Frenchwoman to look upon a
misalliance without a shiver of dread and apprehension. Her relationship
to Robert was only by marriage, but an own child could not have been
dearer, for he was bound to her by all the traditions and ties of a
lifetime.
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