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The recognition of this heroic side of Fanny's nature commanded the instant admiration and respect of her visitor. Mary then and there vowed in her heart eternal friendship for her new acquaintance, and the vow was never broken. Balzac, in his "Cousine Bette," says that there is no stronger passion than the love of one woman for another.
"And are they always right?" asked Margaret, half amused and half vexed. "They are right for me!" said Rita, nodding her pretty head. "That is enough." She pushed her chair back, and coming to Margaret's side, laid her hand lightly on her shoulder. "Chère cousine," she said, in a caressing tone, "you are so charming, I do hope you are not good. It is detestable to be good!
Witness such fiction as "The Magic Skin," "Seraphita," and "The Quest of the Absolute." It is hard to believe that the author of such creations is he of "Pere Goriot" or "Cousine Bette." But it is Balzac's wisdom to see that such pictures are quite as truly part of the Human Comedy: because they represent man giving play to his soul exercising his highest faculties.
But to his surprise it was a large map that Karl had been studying, and, to his still greater surprise, a map of the consul's own district. "You seem to be fond of map-studying," said the consul pleasantly. "You are not thinking of emigrating again?" "Ach, no!" said Karl simply; "it is my cousine vot haf lif near here. I find her."
Where is she now, that flower of northern snow, once seen for a season in Paris? Has she returned to her native northern solitudes, great gulfs of sea water, mountain rock, and pine? Balzac's genius is in his titles as heaven is in its stars: "Melmoth Reconcilié," "Jésus-Christ en Flandres," "Le Revers d'un Grand Homme," "La Cousine Bette."
"In such case, Tascher, it were best for all parties I should not know the lady. I have no fancy, believe me, for being smitten whether I will or no." "I see, Master Burke, there is a bit of impertinence in all this. You sneer at my warnings about la belle cousine; now, I am determined you shall see her at least.
Whatever I may be, I can't live under Bonaparte's rule." "Oh, come, ma cousine! Where do you get your information from? On the contrary..." "I won't submit to your Napoleon! Others may if they please.... If you don't want to do this..." "But I will, I'll give the order at once." The princess was apparently vexed at not having anyone to be angry with. Muttering to herself, she sat down on a chair.
Sometimes in a brace of books Balzac shows us the front and back-side of some certain section of life: as in "Cousin Pons" and "Cousine Bette."
"Ma cousine," she said, "it is a thousand pities that you cannot come to Havana with me. The quality of being always virtuous it is abhorrent, très chère; correct it, if possible. And the garret cries out for us!" she said, turning away, with the straight line between her eyes that meant mischief, as Margaret had already learned.
Upon scraping the cut tuber, there was a white, floury powder produced, resembling the starchy substance of the potato. "This flour," said Catharine, "would make good porridge with milk." "Excellent, no doubt, my wise little cook and housekeeper," said Louis laughing; "but, ma belle cousine, where is the milk and where is the porridge-pot to come from?"
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