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cared to win for the sake of his new family。 Nor is this all that you
have destroyed〃 said the mother。
There was a dreadful pause； Lucien took his mother's reproaches in
silence。
〃Now begin to work；〃 Mme。 Chardon went on more gently。 〃You tried to
revive the noble family of whom I come； I do not blame you for it。 But
the man who undertakes such a task needs money above all things； and
must bear a high heart in him； both were wanting in your case。 We
believed in you once； our belief has been shaken。 This was a hard…
working； contented household； making its way with difficulty； you have
troubled their peace。 The first offence may be forgiven； but it must
be the last。 We are in a very difficult position here； you must be
careful； and take your sister's advice； Lucien。 The school of trouble
is a very hard one； but Eve has learned much by her lessons； she has
grown grave and thoughtful； she is a mother。 In her devotion to our
dear David she has taken all the family burdens upon herself； indeed；
through your wrongdoing she has come to be my only comfort。〃
〃You might be still more severe； my mother；〃 Lucien said； as he kissed
her。 〃I accept your forgiveness； for I will not need it a second
time。〃
Eve came into the room； saw her brother's humble attitude； and knew
that he had been forgiven。 Her kindness brought a smile for him to her
lips； and Lucien answered with tear…filled eyes。 A living presence
acts like a charm； changing the most hostile positions of lovers or of
families； no matter how just the resentment。 Is it that affection
finds out the ways of the heart； and we love to fall into them again？
Does the phenomenon come within the province of the science of
magnetism？ Or is it reason that tells us that we must either forgive
or never see each other again？ Whether the cause be referred to
mental； physical； or spiritual conditions； everyone knows the effect；
every one has felt that the looks； the actions or gestures of the
beloved awaken some vestige of tenderness in those most deeply sinned
against and grievously wronged。 Though it is hard for the mind to
forget； though we still smart under the injury； the heart returns to
its allegiance in spite of all。 Poor Eve listened to her brother's
confidences until breakfast…time； and whenever she looked at him she
was no longer mistress of her eyes； in that intimate talk she could
not control her voice。 And with the comprehension of the conditions of
literary life in Paris； she understood that the struggle had been too
much for Lucien's strength。 The poet's delight as he caressed his
sister's child； his deep grief over David's absence； mingled with joy
at seeing his country and his own folk again； the melancholy words
that he let fall；all these things combined to make that day a
festival。 When Marion brought in the strawberries； he was touched to
see that Eve had remembered his taste in spite of her distress； and
she； his sister； must make ready a room for the prodigal brother and
busy herself for Lucien。 It was a truce； as it were； to misery。 Old
Sechard himself assisted to bring about this revulsion of feeling in
the two women〃You are making as much of him as if he were bringing
you any amount of money！〃
〃And what has my brother done that we should not make much of him？〃
cried Eve； jealously screening Lucien。
Nevertheless； when the first expansion was over； shades of truth came
out。 It was not long before Lucien felt the difference between the old
affection and the new。 Eve respected David from the depths of her
heart； Lucien was beloved for his own sake； as we love a mistress
still in spite of the disasters she causes。 Esteem； the very
foundation on which affection is based； is the solid stuff to which
affection owes I know not what of certainty and security by which we
live； and this was lacking between Mme。 Chardon and her son； between
the sister and the brother。 Mother and daughter did not put entire
confidence in him； as they would have done if he had not lost his
honor； and he felt this。 The opinion expressed in d'Arthez's letter
was Eve's own estimate of her brother； unconsciously she revealed it
by her manner； tones； and gestures。 Oh！ Lucien was pitied； that was
true； but as for all that he had been； the pride of the household； the
great man of the family； the hero of the fireside；all this； like
their fair hopes of him； was gone； never to return。 They were so
afraid of his heedlessness that he was not told where David was
hidden。 Lucien wanted to see his brother； but this Eve； insensible to
the caresses which accompanied his curious questionings； was not the
Eve of L'Houmeau； for whom a glance from him had been an order that
must be obeyed。 When Lucien spoke of making reparation； and talked as
though he could rescue David； Eve only answered：
〃Do not interfere； we have enemies of the most treacherous and
dangerous kind。〃
Lucien tossed his head； as one who should say； 〃I have measured myself
against Parisians；〃 and the look in his sister's eyes said
unmistakably； 〃Yes； but you were defeated。〃
〃Nobody cares for me now；〃 Lucien thought。 〃In the home circle； as in
the world without； success is a necessity。〃
The poet tried to explain their lack of confidence in him； he had not
been at home two days before a feeling of vexation rather than of
angry bitterness gained hold on him。 He applied Parisian standards to
the quiet； temperate existence of the provinces； quite forgetting that
the narrow； patient life of the household was the result of his own
misdoings。
〃They are bourgeoises； they cannot understand me；〃 he said； setting
himself apart from his sister and mother and David； now that they
could no longer be deceived as to his real character and his future。
Many troubles and shocks of fortune had quickened the intuitive sense
in both the women。 Eve and Mme。 Chardon guessed the thoughts in
Lucien's inmost soul； they felt that he misjudged them； they saw him
mentally isolating himself。
〃Paris has changed him very much；〃 they said between themselves。 They
were indeed reaping the harvest of egoism which they themselves had
fostered。
It was inevitable but that the leaven should work in all three； and
this most of all in Lucien； because he felt that he was so heavily to
blame。 As for Eve； she was just the kind of sister to beg an erring
brother to 〃Forgive me for your trespasses；〃 but when the union of two
souls had been as perfect since life's very beginnings； as it had been
with Eve and Lucien； any blow dealt to that fair ideal is fatal。
Scoundrels can draw knives on each other and make it up again
afterwards； while a look or a word is enough to sunder two lovers for
ever。 In the recollection of an almost perfect life of heart and heart
lies the secret of many an estrangement that none can explain。 Two may
live together without full trust in their hearts if only their past
holds no memories of complete and unclouded love； but for those who
once have known that intimate life； it becomes intolerable to keep
perpetual watch over looks and words。 Great poets know this； Paul and
Virginie die before youth is over； can we think of Paul and Virginie
estranged？ L