A Parisian Romance — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

A PARISIAN ROMANCE. 149 ride in omnibuses, and especially to wear old dresses and last year’s hats, well, then her courage failed her a little. She could have gone without bread with a smiling face, but to have no fresh gloves was atrial beyond her strength. And Ido not blame her. It is natural enough at her age, poor little girl.” “Her age has nothing to do with it,” said the doctor, somewhat gruffly. “It is the fault of the ridiculous education we give our girls, which teaches them to rank outside show above inner worth. When troubles come upon them and luxu- ries fail them, then everything fails them. They have no stamina, no bravery, no anything.” Madame de Targv’s face was very sad,as she re- plied: “However that may be, I know that Marcelle has many a struggle with herself. At times she is un- selfish and self-reliant, and then come the moments of weakness. I am sadly afraid that she hides more than she allows us to see. Her temper of late is very uncertain. But, in spite of all, I know that her heart is good, and I do not despair.” Whatever the doctor’s private opinion might be, he did not care to trouble the good lady by any dismal forebodings, so he answered energetically: © “And you are right. Everything will be well in the end.” Then, after a pause, he added, “1 need not repeat to you, that you will do me the greatest unkindness, if you chance at any time to be pecu- Gomichbooksrco m ~~"