Adeline early to…morrow； for； as you must see； I cannot； with any
decency； remain here。 I will go and keep house for your brother the
Marshal。〃
〃I am going home this evening；〃 said Hulot。
〃Very well； you will see me at breakfast to…morrow；〃 said Lisbeth；
smiling。
She understood that her presence would be necessary at the family
scene that would take place on the morrow。 And the very first thing in
the morning she went to see Victorin and to tell him that Hortense and
Wenceslas had parted。
When the Baron went home at half…past ten； Mariette and Louise； who
had had a hard day； were locking up the apartment。 Hulot had not to
ring。
Very much put out at this compulsory virtue； the husband went straight
to his wife's room； and through the half…open door he saw her kneeling
before her Crucifix； absorbed in prayer； in one of those attitudes
which make the fortune of the painter or the sculptor who is so happy
to invent and then to express them。 Adeline； carried away by her
enthusiasm； was praying aloud：
〃O God； have mercy and enlighten him！〃
The Baroness was praying for her Hector。
At this sight； so unlike what he had just left； and on hearing this
petition founded on the events of the day； the Baron heaved a sigh of
deep emotion。 Adeline looked round； her face drowned in tears。 She was
so convinced that her prayer had been heard； that； with one spring；
she threw her arms round Hector with the impetuosity of happy
affection。 Adeline had given up all a wife's instincts； sorrow had
effaced even the memory of them。 No feeling survived in her but those
of motherhood； of the family honor； and the pure attachment of a
Christian wife for a husband who has gone astraythe saintly
tenderness which survives all else in a woman's soul。
〃Hector！〃 she said； 〃are you come back to us？ Has God taken pity on
our family？〃
〃Dear Adeline；〃 replied the Baron； coming in and seating his wife by
his side on a couch； 〃you are the saintliest creature I ever knew； I
have long known myself to be unworthy of you。〃
〃You would have very little to do； my dear；〃 said she； holding Hulot's
hand and trembling so violently that it was as though she had a palsy；
〃very little to set things in order〃
She dared not proceed； she felt that every word would be a reproof；
and she did not wish to mar the happiness with which this meeting was
inundating her soul。
〃It is Hortense who has brought me here；〃 said Hulot。 〃That child may
do us far more harm by her hasty proceeding than my absurd passion for
Valerie has ever done。 But we will discuss all this to…morrow morning。
Hortense is asleep； Mariette tells me； we will not disturb her。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Madame Hulot； suddenly plunged into the depths of grief。
She understood that the Baron's return was prompted not so much by the
wish to see his family as by some ulterior interest。
〃Leave her in peace till to…morrow；〃 said the mother。 〃The poor child
is in a deplorable condition； she has been crying all day。〃
At nine the next morning； the Baron； awaiting his daughter； whom he
had sent for； was pacing the large； deserted drawing…room； trying to
find arguments by which to conquer the most difficult form of
obstinacy there is to deal withthat of a young wife； offended and
implacable； as blameless youth ever is； in its ignorance of the
disgraceful compromises of the world； of its passions and interests。
〃Here I am； papa；〃 said Hortense in a tremulous voice； and looking
pale from her miseries。
Hulot； sitting down； took his daughter round the waist； and drew her
down to sit on his knee。
〃Well； my child；〃 said he； kissing her forehead； 〃so there are
troubles at home； and you have been hasty and headstrong？ That is not
like a well…bred child。 My Hortense ought not to have taken such a
decisive step as that of leaving her house and deserting her husband
on her own account； and without consulting her parents。 If my darling
girl had come to see her kind and admirable mother； she would not have
given me this cruel pain I feel！You do not know the world； it is
malignantly spiteful。 People will perhaps say that your husband sent
you back to your parents。 Children brought up as you were； on your
mother's lap； remain artless； maidenly passion like yours for
Wenceslas； unfortunately； makes no allowances； it acts on every
impulse。 The little heart is moved； the head follows suit。 You would
burn down Paris to be revenged； with no thought of the courts of
justice！
〃When your old father tells you that you have outraged the
proprieties； you may take his word for it。I say nothing of the cruel
pain you have given me。 It is bitter； I assure you； for you throw all
the blame on a woman of whose heart you know nothing； and whose
hostility may become disastrous。 And you； alas！ so full of guileless
innocence and purity； can have no suspicions； but you may be vilified
and slandered。Besides； my darling pet； you have taken a foolish jest
too seriously。 I can assure you； on my honor； that your husband is
blameless。 Madame Marneffe〃
So far the Baron； artistically diplomatic； had formulated his
remonstrances very judiciously。 He had； as may be observed； worked up
to the mention of this name with superior skill； and yet Hortense； as
she heard it； winced as if stung to the quick。
〃Listen to me； I have had great experience； and I have seen much；〃 he
went on； stopping his daughter's attempt to speak。 〃That lady is very
cold to your husband。 Yes； you have been made the victim of a
practical joke； and I will prove it to you。 Yesterday Wenceslas was
dining with her〃
〃Dining with her！〃 cried the young wife； starting to her feet； and
looking at her father with horror in every feature。 〃Yesterday！ After
having had my letter！ Oh； great God！Why did I not take the veil
rather than marry？ But now my life is not my own！ I have the child！〃
and she sobbed。
Her weeping went to Madame Hulot's heart。 She came out of her room and
ran to her daughter； taking her in her arms； and asking her those
questions； stupid with grief； which first rose to her lips。
〃Now we have tears；〃 said the Baron to himself； 〃and all was going so
well！ What is to be done with women who cry？〃
〃My child；〃 said the Baroness； 〃listen to your father！ He loves us all
come； come〃
〃Come； Hortense； my dear little girl； cry no more； you make yourself
too ugly！〃 said the Baron； 〃Now； be a little reasonable。 Go sensibly
home； and I promise you that Wenceslas shall never set foot in that
woman's house。 I ask you to make the sacrifice； if it is a sacrifice
to forgive the husband you love so small a fault。 I ask youfor the
sake of my gray hairs； and of the love you owe your mother。 You do not
want to blight my later years with bitterness and regret？〃
Hortense fell at her father's feet like a crazed thing； with the
vehemence of despair； her hair； loosely pinned up； fell about her； and
she held out her hands with an expression that painted her misery。
〃Father；〃 she said； 〃ask my life！ Take it if you will； but at least
take it pure and spotless； and I will yield it up gladly。 Do not ask
me to die in dishonor and crime。 I am not at all like my husband； I
cannot swallow an outrage。 If I went back under my husband's roof； I
should be capable of smothering him in a fit of jealousyor of doing
worse！ Do no exact from me a thing that is beyond my powers。 Do not
have to mourn for me still living； for the least that can befall me is
to go mad。 I feel madness close upon me！
〃Yesterday； yesterday； he could dine with that woman； after having
read my letter？Are other men made so？ My life I give you； but do not
let my death be ignominious！His fault？A small one！ When he has a
child by that woman！〃
〃A child！〃 cried Hulot； starting back a step or two。 〃Come。 This is
really some fooling。〃
At this juncture Victorin and Lisbeth arrived； and stood dumfounded at
the scene。 The daughter was prostrate at her father's feet。 The
Baroness； speechless between her maternal feelings and her conjugal
duty； showed a harassed face bathed in tears。
〃Lisbeth；〃 said the Baron； seizing his cousin by the hand and pointing
to Hortense； 〃you can help me here。 My poor child's brain is turned；
she believes that her Wenceslas is Madame Marneffe's lover； while all
that Valerie wanted was to have a group by him。〃
〃/Delilah/！〃 cried the young wife。 〃The only thing he has done since
our marriage。 The man would not work for me or for his son； and he has
worked with frenzy for that good…for…nothing creature。Oh； father；
kill me outright； for every word stabs like a knife！〃
Lisbeth turned to the Baroness and Victorin； pointing with a pitying
shrug to the Baron； who could not see her。
〃Listen to me；〃 said she to him。 〃I had no ideawhen you asked me to
go to lodge over Madame Marneffe and keep house for herI had no idea
of what she was； but many things may be learned in three years。 That
creature is a prostitute； and one whose depravity can only be compared
with that of her infamous and horrible husband。 You are the dupe； my
lord pot…boiler； of those people； you will be led further by them than
you dream of！ I speak plainly； for you are at the bottom of a pit。〃
The Baroness an