Brother Jacques Part 3

"Yes, my dear, that is agreed."

"But shall I keep my place in the department? That would prevent me from leaving the city."

"You must not keep it! What is the use? We have fifteen thousand francs a year; is that not enough to be happy?"

"Oh! it is more than we need."

"Besides, your place would keep you away from me all day and I don't want that!"

"Dear Adeline, but your mother--what will she say if I give up my place?"

"Mamma has but one desire--to make me happy; she will approve our plans, for she has no more ambition than we have."

"All right, then it is decided; I send in my resignation to-morrow."

"Yes, dear."

"And we will buy a small country house, simple, but in good taste, where we will live with your mother. Where shall we buy?"

"Where you please, my dear."

"No, it is for you to decide."

"You know that I am always of your opinion."

"Very well, then we will visit the suburbs, we will read the advertis.e.m.e.nts, we will consult mamma."

"That is right, my dear."

"Shall we entertain much?"

"As you please, my dear."

"My dear love, that is for you to decide."

"Very well! then we will receive very few people, for company would prevent us from being together, from going to walk and to drive alone; and I feel that that would annoy me terribly!"

"How sweet you are!"

"We will receive just a few friends; mamma's, for example."

"Exactly. In the morning we will walk in the garden--for we must have a garden, mustn't we?"

"Oh! yes, my dear! A big garden, with lots of shade,--and thickets!"

"Ah! you are already thinking of the thickets!"

"Does that offend you, monsieur?"

Edouard's only reply was to kiss his wife, press her to his heart, receive her soft caresses, and--the conversation was interrupted for several minutes.

"So we will have a big garden with dense thickets," said Edouard when they renewed the conversation.

"Yes, my dear," replied Adeline, smiling, and lowering her eyes, still glistening with pleasure. "In the evening, we will walk about the neighborhood, and dance with the village people; or, if the weather is bad, we will play cards with some of the neighbors. Do you like that prospect?"

"Yes, my dear love, very much."

The doting Adeline was always of her husband's opinion; Edouard refused to have a will of his own; and they were so in accord that they vied with each other in seeing who should not be the master, and should not rule the house.

The young people had reached a very interesting article in the matter of conjugal happiness: they were thinking of the children they would have, of the education they would give them and of the professions which they would advise them to embrace, when there was a gentle tap at the door of their chamber. It was Madame Germeuil, come to embrace her daughter and to enjoy the happiness which she read in her eyes. A pleasant sight for a mother,--which reminded her of the same period in her own life.

Adeline blushed as she kissed her mother; the good woman informed them that breakfast was awaiting them, and breakfast is a very essential affair. The bride ate little; she was too preoccupied to have any appet.i.te; the new ideas which thronged through her brain were enough to banish every other thought; but it was very different with the groom--he did not eat, he devoured! An additional proof this that men are less affectionate than women, since the same cause does not produce the same result.

During breakfast, the young people spoke to Madame Germeuil of their plans. The mother made a slight grimace when they told her that Edouard proposed to give up his place. She attempted to make some objections; she essayed to prove what a mistake that would be for Murville, who hoped to be promoted and to become a chief of bureau some day. The young man said nothing; perhaps he felt in his inmost heart that his mother-in-law was right; but Adeline entreated her mother with such grace, she kissed her so lovingly, and drew such a touching picture of the happiness they would all three enjoy, if they need never part; she praised so adroitly the pleasures of the country, their scheme of life, and all the attractions with which they would embellish her existence, that Madame Germeuil had not the courage to resist her daughter's entreaties, and the plan was adopted.

"But," said Madame Germeuil, "Edouard cannot remain idle. Idleness is a very dangerous business, and one which often leads us to do foolish things, which would never have occurred to us if we had been occupied."

"Oh! never fear, mamma! Edouard will always have occupation! I myself will undertake to provide him with it! In the first place, all the details of our affairs;--he will have to look after the management of our little fortune; and then the care of our little country house, the time in my company and the walks we shall take----"

"But, my dear love, one cannot walk all the time."

"Of course not! but then we will rest, or work in the garden. And our children, to whom you do not give a thought; shall we not have to bring them up, to look after their education, to guide their first steps?"

"Ah! you are thinking already of your children?"

"Yes, mamma; they come into our plans."

"What a mad creature you are, my dear Adeline!"

"No, mamma; on the contrary, you will see that I shall be very sensible, and my husband too."

Madame Germeuil did not seem altogether convinced of the wisdom of her daughter's plans; but she proposed to keep constant watch upon the conduct of her two children, and she knew that Adeline, always given to building castles in Spain, would be the first to abandon her errors, if she should ever commit any. As to Edouard, he would do whatever they wished, so that it was only a question of giving him good advice, and of not following the example of his wife, who always agreed with him.

After breakfast they discussed the question where they would live. They had sent out for a copy of the _Pet.i.tes-Affiches_; Adeline pa.s.sed the paper to her husband, and Madame Germeuil was trying to remember in which direction the air was likely to be most healthy, when Murville uttered a cry of surprise and jumped up from his chair.

"What is it, my dear?" asked Adeline, amazed by her husband's excitement.

"It is the very place," said Edouard, still reading the paper; "at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, the house looking on the fields, two floors, a large garden, a summer-house, a courtyard, an iron fence----"

"Well, my dear, is that what nearly made you upset the breakfast table?"

"Oh! my dear love! oh! my dear mamma--that house----"

"Do you know it?"

"Do I know it! It belonged to my father, and I pa.s.sed a great part of my youth there."

"Is it possible?"