"Take care I don't marry you, old fool!" replied the young girl, whose
last words were happily drowned in the noise.
"My dear children," said Madame de Fontaine, to soften this saucy
retort, "Emilie, like you, will take no advice but her mother's."
"Bless me! I shall take no advice but my own in a matter which
concerns no one but myself," said Mademoiselle de Fontaine very
distinctly.
At this all eyes were turned to the head of the family. Every one
seemed anxious as to what he would do to assert his dignity. The
venerable gentleman enjoyed much consideration, not only in the world;
happier than many fathers, he was also appreciated by his family, all
its members having a just esteem for the solid qualities by which he
had been able to make their fortunes. Hence he was treated with the
deep respect which is shown by English families, and some aristocratic
houses on the continent, to the living representatives of an ancient
pedigree. Deep silence had fallen; and the guests looked alternately
from the spoilt girl's proud and sulky pout to the severe faces of
Monsieur and Madame de Fontaine.
"I have made my daughter Emilie mistress of her own fate," was the
reply spoken by the Count in a deep voice.
Relations and guests gazed at Mademoiselle de Fontaine with mingled
curiosity and pity. The words seemed to declare that fatherly
affection was weary of the contest with a character that the whole
family knew to be incorrigible.
Pages:
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46