Милий друг
Madame Walter Takes a Hand
StillshehassufferedagreatdealinhavingmarriedaJew,thoughshehasbeentruetohim;sheisavirtuouswoman."
DuRoywassurprised:"IthoughtheraJewess."
"SheaJewess!No,indeed!SheistheprimemoverinallthecharitablemovementsattheMadeleine.Shewasevenmarriedbyapriest.IamnotsurebutthatM.Walterwentthroughtheformofbaptism."
Georgesmurmured:"And—she—likes—me—"
"Yes.IfyouwerenotmarriedIshouldadviseyoutoaskforthehandof—Suzanne—wouldyounotpreferhertoRose?"
Herepliedashetwistedhismustache:"Eh!themotherisnotsobad!"
Madeleinereplied:"Iamnotafraidofher.Atherageonedoesnotbegintomakeconquests—oneshouldcommencesooner."
Georgesthought:"IfImighthavehadSuzanne,ah!"Thenheshruggedhisshoulders:"Bah,itisabsurd;herfatherwouldnothaveconsented."
HedeterminedtotreatMme.Walterveryconsideratelyinordertoretainherregard.AllthateveninghewashauntedbyrecollectionsofhisloveforClotilde;herecalledtheirescapades,herkindness.Herepeatedtohimself:"Sheisindeednice.Yes,Ishallcalluponherto-morrow."
WhenhehadlunchedthefollowingmorningherepairedtoRueVerneuil.
