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Giselle illustrated this day by day in her relations to a husband as disagreeable as a husband well could be, a man of small intelligence, who was not even faithful to her. But she did not cite herself as an example. She never talked about herself, or her own difficulties. "You are an angel of sense and goodness," sobbed Jacqueline. "I will do whatever you wish me to do."
Giselle, in consternation, asked herself whether this strange girl, who did not care for children, could be a proper wife for Fred; but her habitual indulgence came to her aid, and she thought: "She is but a child herself, she does not know what she is saying," and profiting by her first tete-a-tete with Jacqueline's stepmother, she spoke as she had promised to Madame de Nailles.
"Meantime, it would be well if you, dear, were to try to find out what Jacqueline thinks. You may not find it very easy." "Will you authorize me to tell her how well he loves her? Oh, then, I am quite satisfied!" cried Giselle. But she was under a mistake. Jacqueline, as soon as she began to speak to her of Fred's suit, stopped her: "Poor fellow!
M. de Talbrun liked ladies to be always well and always lively, and it was her duty to see that Giselle accommodated herself to his taste; sea-bathing, life in the open air, and merry companions, were the things she needed to make her a little less thin, to give her tone, and to take some of her convent stiffness out of her.
I have brought you some chocolate," said Jacqueline to Giselle, as soon as her cousin appeared, looking far prettier in her black cloth frock than when she wore an ordinary walking-costume.
His mother stretched out her trembling arms, gave a great cry, and fainted away. "Don't be alarmed; it is only joy," said Giselle, in her soft voice. And when Madame d'Argy proved her to be right by recovering very quickly, overwhelming her son with rapid questions and covering him with kisses, Giselle held out her hand to him and said: "I, too, am very glad you have come home."
Then Giselle began to suspect something, and remarked that nobody was talking that evening, asking, with a half-smile, whether they had been quarrelling. "We did have a little difference," Oscar replied, quietly. "Oh, it did not amount to anything," he said, lighting his cigar; "let us make friends again, won't you?" he added, holding out his hand to Jacqueline.
Blinded for a moment, he let her go, and she took advantage of her release to put her horse to its full speed. He galloped after her, beside himself with wrath and agitation; it was a mad but silent race, until they reached the gate of the Chateau de Fresne, which they entered at the same moment, their horses covered with foam. "How foolish!" cried Giselle, coming to meet them.
"There were plenty of men round certain persons," replied Fred, dryly. "Madame de Villegry's table was literally besieged." "Really! What, hers! You surprise me! So it was the good things she gave you that make you despise my poor chocolate," said Giselle, rising on her elbow, to receive the smoking cup that a servant brought her on a little silver salver.
Her adversary, much relieved by this response, could not repress a sigh. "It seems singular," said M. de Nailles. "What! that I prefer to pass a month or six weeks with Madame d'Argy? Besides, Giselle is going to be married during that time." "They might put it off until we come back, I should suppose." "Oh! I don't think they would," cried the Baroness. "Madame de Monredon is so selfish.
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