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I must leave you; I have some proofs to correct. Au revoir, Meydieux!" The old blunderer began to realize that he had overstepped the limits of decorum. "But why did she go this morning, instead of by the train with all the other artists this evening?" "Esperance," explained Madame Darbois, "left early in order to have time to see Brussels, which everyone says is a charming city.
"Oh! oh! oh!" screamed Meydieux. "Yes, refusing to perform the sole function the State expects of them." "And that is?" "To become a husband, a father, a parent." "You are insolent! It is not worth my while to reply to you. You may tell my goddaughter...." The door opened, and Esperance, who had been kept awake by the noise of their voices, appeared to know what was the matter!
"My godfather in Brussels!... You see, Jean, that I was right to doubt your omen." The young people burst out laughing. "Really," continued Esperance, "I feel that he is going to spoil my trip here. I don't like him, and his advice never coincides with that of my father, whom I love so much." Meantime M. Meydieux was getting impatient on the telephone.
"In my opinion, M. Meydieux, you annoy my cousin too much, and for no reason. You forget that she has created for herself a position beyond her years, and you treat her like a child not out of the school-room." "Well, isn't it all for her good?" screamed out Adhemar in a fury. "The rest of you burn incense before her; she will be destroyed by pride and that will be your fault!"
"Do not disturb yourself, M. Meydieux, Esperance had a triumph at the last rehearsal at the Francaise." "I believe it too," added the old lady, "and permit me to state, my dear sir, that you judge my young pupil very unfairly. She is just as modest, just as gentle, as she was a year ago, and those who love her may be well reassured of that fact.
"It is fortunate that I shall not see her, I think that I should be paralyzed!" "Perhaps she will send for you after the rehearsal," returned the tragedian. "She is a patroness of art, and very kind to artists." "Will His Majesty, King Leopold, come this evening?" demanded Meydieux, with great interest. "Certainly," Mounet-Sully assured him.
Adhemar wished to take the floor and cleared his throat in preparation, but Francois Darbois, evidently a little nonplused, muttered, "And then after that what are you coming to?" "To what you answered, papa." Her father looked at her a little anxiously, but she met his glance calmly and continued: "You said to my godfather, 'My dear Meydieux, you are absolutely mistaken.
The Darbois family consisted of Francois Darbois, professor of philosophy, a scholar of eminence and distinction; of Madame Darbois, his wife, a charming gentle little creature, without any pretentions; of Philippe Renaud, brother of Madame Darbois, an honest and able business man; of his son, Maurice Renaud, twenty-two and a painter, a fine youth filled with confidence because of the success he had just achieved at the last Salon; of a distant cousin, the family counsellor, a tyrannical landlord and self-centered bachelor, Adhemar Meydieux, and the child of whom he was godfather, and around whom all this particular little world revolved.
Adhemar Meydieux often came to inquire about his goddaughter's studies. He wished to hear her recite, to give her advice; but Esperance refused energetically, still remembering his former opposition against him. She would let no one hear her recitations, but her mother. Madame Darbois put all her heart into her efforts to help her daughter. Every morning she went through her work with Esperance.
"Deliciously restful, and you, my dear child, how did you sleep?" "I never woke once. Oh! what a sun. Have you seen what a glorious day it is?" "It is the forerunner of good news," Jean cried out from the next room. "Who knows?" said Esperance. The telephone at her bedside rung. Marguerite picked up the receiver, and announced dejectedly, "M. Meydieux wishes to speak to Mademoiselle."
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