ot
called there for more than two years.

"Good-morning, father," said Victorin, offering his hand.

"Good-morning, children," said the pompous Crevel. "Madame la Baronne, I
throw myself at your feet! Good Heavens, how the children grow! they are
pushing us off the perch--'Grand-pa,' they say, 'we want our turn in the
sunshine.'--Madame la Comtesse, you are as lovely as ever," he went
on, addressing Hortense.--"Ah, ha! and here is the best of good money:
Cousin Betty, the Wise Virgin."

"Why, you are really very comfortable here," said he, after scattering
these greetings with a cackle of loud laughter that hardly moved the
rubicund muscles of his broad face.

He looked at his daughter with some contempt.

"My dear Celestine, I will make you a present of all my furniture out
of the Rue des Saussayes; it will just do here. Your drawing-room wants
furnishing up.--Ha! there is that little rogue Wenceslas. Well, and
are we very good children, I wonder? You must have pretty manners, you
know."

"To make up for those who have none," said Lisbeth.

"That sarcasm, my dear Lisbeth, has lost its sting. I am going, my dear
children, to put an end to the false position in which I have so long
been placed; I have come, like a good father, to announce my approaching
marriage without any circumlocution."

"You have a perfect right to marry," said Victorin. "And for my part,
I give you back the promise you made me when you gave me the hand of my
dear Celestine--"

"What promise?" said Crevel.

"Not to marry," replied the lawyer. "You will do me the justice to allow
that I did not ask you to pledge yourself, that you gave your word quite
voluntarily and in spite of my desire, for I pointed out to you at the
time that you were unwise to bind yourself."

"Yes, I do remember, my dear fellow," said Crevel, ashamed of himself.
"But, on my honor, if you will but live with Madame Crevel, my children,
you will find no reason to repent.--Your good feeling touches
me, Victorin, and you will find that generosity to me is not
unrewarded.--Come, by the Poker! welcome your stepmother and come to the
wedding."

"But you have not told us the lady's name, papa," said Celestine.

"Why, it is an open secret," replied Crevel. "Do not let us play at
guess who can! Lisbeth must have told you."

"My dear Monsieur Crevel," replied Lisbeth, "there are certain names we
never utter here--"

"Well, then, it is Madame Marneffe."

"Monsieur Cre