Милый друг
Madame De Marelle
Angeredbythosescenesandalreadywearyofthedramaticwoman,hehadsimplyavoidedher,hopingthattheaffairwouldendinthatway.
Butshepersecutedhimwithheraffection,summonedhimatalltimesbytelegramstomeetheratstreetcorners,inshops,orpublicgardens.Shewasverydifferentfromwhathehadfanciedshewouldbe,tryingtoattracthimbyactionsridiculousinoneofherage.Itdisgustedhimtohearhercallhim:"Myrat—mydog—mytreasure--myjewel—myblue-bird"—andtoseeherassumeakindofchildishmodestywhenheapproached.Itseemedtohimthatbeingthemotherofafamily,awomanoftheworld,sheshouldhavebeenmoresedate,andhaveyieldedWithtearsifshechose,butwiththetearsofaDidoandnotofaJuliette.Heneverheardhercallhim"Littleone"or"Baby,"withoutwishingtoreply"Oldwoman,"totakehishatwithanoathandleavetheroom.
AtfirsttheyhadoftenmetatRuedeConstantinople,butDuRoy,whofearedanencounterwithMme.deMarelle,inventedathousandandonepretextsinordertoavoidthatrendezvous.Hewasthereforeobligedtoeitherlunchordineatherhousedaily,whenshewouldclasphishandundercoverofthetableorofferhimherlipsbehindthedoors.Aboveall,GeorgesenjoyedbeingthrownsomuchincontactwithSuzanne;shemadesportofeverythingandeverybodywithcuttingappropriateness.
