下载辰思小说免费APP
“Imustconfess，mydearmother，“hesaid，inacantingtone，lookingatMonsieurandMadameHochonwhoaccompaniedher，“thatmyuncle’swayoflifeisnotbecoming；hecould，however，makeMademoiselleBrazierrespectedbythecommunityifhechose。Wouldn’titbefarbetterforhertobeMadameRougetthantheservant-mistressofanoldbachelor？Shehadbetterobtainadefiniterighttohispropertybyamarriagecontractthenthreatenawholefamilywithdisinheritance。Ifyou，orMonsieurHochon，orsomegoodpriestwouldspeakofthemattertobothparties，youmightputastoptothescandalwhichoffendsdecentpeople。MademoiselleBrazierwouldbeonlytoohappyifyouweretowelcomeherasasister，andIasanaunt。“
OnthemorrowAgatheandMadameHochonappearedatFlore’sbedside，andrepeatedtothesickgirlandtoRouget，theexcellentsentimentsexpressedbyPhilippe。ThroughoutIssoudunthecolonelwastalkedofasamanofnoblecharacter，especiallybecauseofhisconducttowardsFlore。Foramonth，theRabouilleuseheardGoddet，herdoctor，theindividualwhohasparamountinfluenceoverasickperson，therespectableMadameHochon，movedbyreligiousprinciple，andAgathe，sogentleandpious，allrepresentingtohertheadvantagesofamarriagewithRouget。Andwhen，attractedbytheideaofbecomingMadameRouget，adignifiedandvirtuousbourgeoisie，shegreweagertorecover，sothatthemarriagemightspeedilybecelebrated，itwasnotdifficulttomakeherunderstandthatshewouldnotbeallowedtoenterthefamilyoftheRougetsifsheintendedtoturnPhilippefromitsdoors。
“Besides，“remarkedthedoctor，“youreallyowehimthisgoodfortune。
MaxwouldneverhaveallowedyoutomarryoldRouget。And，“headdedinherear，“ifyouhavechildren，youcanrevengeMax，forthatwilldisinherittheBridaus。“
TwomonthsafterthefatalduelinFebruary，1823，thesickwoman，urgedbythoseabouther，andimploredbyRouget，consentedtoreceivePhilippe，thesightofwhosescarsmadeherweep，butwhosesoftenedandaffectionatemannercalmedher。ByPhilippe’swishtheywereleftalonetogether。
“Mydearchild，“saidthesoldier。“ItisI，who，fromthestart，haveadvisedyourmarriagewithmyuncle；ifyouconsent，itwilltakeplaceassoonasyouarequiterecovered。“
“Sotheytellme，“shereplied。
“Circumstanceshavecompelledmetogiveyoupain，itisnaturalthereforethatIshouldwishtodoyouallthegoodIcan。Wealth，respect，andafamilypositionareworthmorethanwhatyouhavelost。
Youwouldn’thavebeenthatfellow’swifelongaftermyuncle’sdeath，forIhappentoknow，throughfriendsofhis，thatheintendedtogetridofyou。Come，mydear，letusunderstandeachother，andlivehappily。Youshallbemyaunt，andnothingmorethanmyaunt。Youwilltakecarethatmyuncledoesnotforgetmeinhiswill；onmyside，youshallseehowwellIwillhaveyoutreatedinthemarriagecontract。Keepcalm，thinkitover，andwewilltalkofitlater。Allsensiblepeople，indeedthewholetown，urgeyoutoputanendtoyourillegalposition；noonewillblameyouforreceivingme。Itiswellunderstoodintheworldthatinterestsgobeforefeelings。Bythedayofyourmarriageyouwillbehandsomerthanever。Thepallorofillnesshasgivenyouanairofdistinction，andonmyhonor，ifmyuncledidnotloveyousomadly，youshouldbethewifeofColonelBridau。“
Philippelefttheroom，havingdroppedthishintintoFlore’smindtowakenavagueideaofvengeancewhichmightpleasethegirl，whodid，infact，feelasortofhappinessasshesawthisdreadfulbeingatherfeet。InthisscenePhilipperepeated，inminiature，thatofRichardIII。withthequeenhehadwidowed。Themeaningofitisthatpersonalcalculation，hiddenundersentiment，hasapowerfulinfluenceontheheart，andisabletodissipateevengenuinegrief。Thisishow，inindivi
