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"There is no such person as Didine; you have killed her, my dear," she replied, releasing herself. "I am taking you to the first performance of Madame la Comtesse de la Baudraye." "It is true, then, that our insect is a peer of France?" "The nomination is to be gazetted in this evening's Moniteur, as I am told by Monsieur de Clagny, who is promoted to the Court of Appeal."
"Good God! that is all very fine in words, but " Dinah sat down and melted into tears as she heard this speech, roughly spoken. Lousteau could not resist this distress. He clasped the Baroness in his arms and kissed her. "Do not cry, Didine!" said he; and, as he uttered the words, he saw in the mirror the figure of Madame Cardot, looking at him from the further end of the rooms.
"Madame de la Baudraye is figged out as if for a first night," said he une premiere, the slang abbreviation for a first performance. "Do not forget the respect you owe to Madame de la Baudraye," said Dinah gravely. "I do not mean to understand such a word as figged out." "Didine a rebel!" said he, putting his arm round her waist.
Didine loved him so wholly, that in certain moments when her critical judgment, just by nature, and constantly exercised since she had lived in Paris, compelled her to read to the bottom of Lousteau's soul, sense was still too much for reason, and suggested excuses. "And what am I?" she replied. "A woman who has put herself outside the pale.
At the risk of her beauty and health, Didine was to Lousteau what Mademoiselle Delachaux was to Gardane in Diderot's noble and true tale. But while sacrificing herself, she committed the magnanimous blunder of sacrificing dress. She had her gowns dyed, and wore nothing but black. She stank of black, as Malaga said, making fun mercilessly of Lousteau.
If my daughter were to die of it, she should never be the wife of such a man as you. You must devote yourself to making your Didine happy, monsieur." And the virtuous lady walked out, followed by Felicie, who was crying too, for she had become accustomed to Etienne.
He has thrashed every cat in the commune except Didine, and never got a scratch to show for it. But he has never scratched me. I slapped him the other day. He slapped back, but with a velvet paw, never even showed a claw. Didn't you always think a cat hated water? I am sure I did. He goes out in all weathers.
"I am going," cried Dinah, starting wildly to her feet and turning to the door. "You will stay here, my Didine. All is at an end. And is this fortune so lightly earned after all? Must I not marry a gawky, tow-haired creature, with a red nose, the daughter of a notary, and saddle myself with a stepmother who could give Madame de Piedefer points on the score of bigotry "
"Oh!" said the old man, "Madame de la Baudraye is still young; there is no time lost." This allusion made Lousteau smile; he did not understand Monsieur de la Baudraye. "There, Didine!" said he in Dinah's ear, "what a waste of remorse!" Dinah begged him to give her one day more, and the lovers parted after the manner of certain theatres, which give ten last performances of a piece that is paying.
Lousteau, who was not lacking in the sort of decision which grows out of the vicissitudes of a storm-tossed life, reflected thus: "Didine is high-minded; when once she knows of my proposed marriage, she will sacrifice herself for my future prospects, and I know how I can manage to let her know."
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