ill demand from you the lost souls whom
your hardness has driven back to sin.

_Celie_--God, do you say? When good people forgive they betray his
justice. For punishment is not retribution only, but the acknowledgment
and recompense of those fighting ones that brave hunger and cold in a
garret, Madame, yet do not surrender.

_Clorinde_--Go, child! I cannot bear more--

_Celie_--I have said more than I meant to say. Good-by. This is the
first and last time that I shall ever speak of this.

[_She goes_.]

A CONTENTED IDLER

From 'M. Poirier's Son-in-Law'

[_The party are leaving the dining-room._]

_Gaston_--Well, Hector! What do you think of it? The house is just as
you see it now, every day in the year. Do you believe there is a happier
man in the world than I?

_Duke_--Faith! I envy you; you reconcile me to marriage.

_Antoinette_ [_in a low voice to Verdelet_]--Monsieur de Montmeyran is a
charming young man!

_Verdelet_ [_in a low voice_]--He pleases me.

_Gaston_ [_to Poirier, who comes in last_]--Monsieur Poirier, I must
tell you once for all how much I esteem you. Don't think I'm ungrateful.

_Poirier_--Oh! Monsieur!

_Gaston_--Why the devil don't you call me Gaston? And you, too, dear
Monsieur Verdelet, I'm very glad to see you.

_Antoinette_--He is one of the family, Gaston.

_Gaston_--Shake hands then, Uncle.

_Verdelet_ [_aside, giving him his hand_]--He's not a bad fellow.

_Gaston_--Agree, Hector, that I've been lucky. Monsieur Poirier, I feel
guilty. You make my life one long fete and never give me a chance in
return. Try to think of something I can do for you.

_Poirier_--Very well, if that's the way you feel, give me a quarter of
an hour. I should like to have a serious talk with you.

_Duke_--I'll withdraw.

_Poirier_--No, stay, Monsieur. We are going to hold a kind of family
council. Neither you nor Verdelet will be in the way.

_Gaston_--The deuce, my dear father-in-law. A family council! You
embarrass me!

_Poirier_--Not at all, dear Gaston. Let us sit down.

[_They seat themselves around the fireplace_.]

_Gaston_--Begin, Monsieur Poirier.

_Poirier_--You say you are happy, dear Gaston, and that is my greatest
recompense.

_Gaston_--I'm willing to double your gratification.

_Poirier_--But now that three months have been given to the joys of the
honeymoon, I think that there has been romance enough, and that it's
time to think about history.

_Gaston_--You talk