A Parisian Romance — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

- A PARISIAN ROMANCE 143 enabled to contribute her share toward the ex- pense, _ Henri also looked on the bright side of things. He had never cared for society, and he was de- lighted to live the quiet, domestic life which had been impossible in the Avenue de l’ Alma. But to Marcelle, the change was a terrible one. At first, poor child, she had earnestly tried to do her duty in the changed state of affairs, and had been brave and patient. But, as the novelty wore off, gradually her acquaintances ceased to come and see her, and she felt that she was ostracized from that gay world, of which she had seen just enough -to give hera taste for more, she grew more and more discontented, more and more embittered. She was not one of those whose characters are strength- ened and beautified by the trials of adversity, and the petty little economies she was now obliged to practice fretted and irritated her. There were two people, moreover, who, in a different way, con- tributed not a little to her discontent—Baron Chev- rial and the tenor, Julian. The baron was a more or less frequent visitor, and he almost invariably timed his calls when Madame de Targy was away at her music-lessons, and the young wife was alone. Marcelle had al- ways disliked him, and her feeling of repulsion was now intensified. She could not but see that the baron spoke to her with much more freedom than formerly; her innate purity revolted at the undis- _ im Gomicbookssco