Belle-Rose — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- 20 THE FIRST TEARS. ‘In marriage to you! What are you talking about?’’ ex. claimed Monsieur de Malzonvilliers, thoroughly stupefied. ‘““T say, monsieur, that I love Mademoiselle Suzanne; the respect | owe to you and my duty do not permit me to in- form her of it before having spoken to you of my senti- ments. That is why 1 come to ask you to accept me for your son-in-law.’’ During this discourse Jacques was standing in the mid- dle of the path, hat in hand, a handkerchief wrapped around his neck, and wearing a gray smock. ‘“There is no need for me to say to you,’’ he added, “that your consent will render-me perfectly happy, and that I will no longer have any other desire than to recog- nize your kindness by my good conduct and my devotion. ”’ All at once Monsieur de Malzonyillers burst out laugh- ing. The strangeness of the proposition and the coolness with which it had been made had stupefied him at first; but at the last words of Jacques he could not keep from laughing in the face of the poor fellow. All of Jacques’ blood mounted to his face. In spite of the illusions with which youth lulls itself, his native good sense told him that his demand would not be welcomed, but his candid honesty did not permit him to _ believes that it might give matter for pleasantry. ‘‘My proposition has amused you,’’ he resumed, with an ill-concealed emotion. ee was not expecting, I confess, to cause you so much joy.’ ‘‘Kh, my friend, neither was I expecting such an ad- venture. Did one ever see a thing like it? It is more amus- ing than a comedy of Monsieur Corneille, *~pon my word.”’ Jacques tore his hat-brim with his fingers, but he was silent. Monsieur de Malzonvilliers kept on.laughing. Fin- ally, no longer able to restrain himself, he sat down upon a block of stone on the side of the path. ‘“You will have sufficient leisure to laugh after,’’ said Jacques, ‘‘but now is the time to answer me; you cannot guess, monsieur, what has taken place in. my heart since I have known that I love Mademoiselle Suzanne. I am wait- ing.’ ‘‘Come, my boy, are you mad?’’. replied the farmer of revenue, drying his eyes. “A madman does not come to honestly ask her father — for the hand of a young girl.”’ ‘“You speak seriously, then?”’ ‘*Quite seriously. ”’ “Be silent, and above all, do not look at me with that = ¢ . ays 4 7 ¢ $: a ee oe yah oer *)"). -£) afew €omicbooks. co