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name lest he should betray the secret of his heart。 Her sentiments
were lofty； her principles religious； she would undoubtedly make him a
faithful wife： moreover； she not only flattered the vanity which
influences every man more or less in the choice of a wife； but she
gratified his pride by the high consideration which her family； doubly
ennobled； enjoyed in Flanders；a consideration which her husband of
course would share。
The next day Pierquin extracted from his strong…box several thousand…
franc notes； which he offered with great friendliness to Balthazar； so
as to relieve him of pecuniary annoyance in the midst of his grief。
Touched by this delicate attention； Balthazar would； he thought；
praise his goodness and his personal qualities to Marguerite。 In this
he was mistaken。 Monsieur Claes and his daughter thought it was a very
natural action； and their sorrow was too absorbing to let them even
think of the lawyer。
Balthazar's despair was indeed so great that persons who were disposed
to blame his conduct could not do otherwise than forgive him；less on
account of the Science which might have excused him； than for the
remorse which could not undo his deeds。 Society is satisfied by
appearances： it takes what it gives； without considering the intrinsic
worth of the article。 To the world real suffering is a show； a species
of enjoyment； which inclines it to absolve even a criminal； in its
thirst for emotions it acquits without judging the man who raises a
laugh； or he who makes it weep； making no inquiry into their methods。
Marguerite was just nineteen when her father put her in charge of the
household； and her brothers and sister； whom Madame Claes in her last
moments exhorted to obey their elder sister； accepted her authority
with docility。 Her mourning attire heightened the dewy whiteness of
her skin； just as the sadness of her expression threw into relief the
gentleness and patience of her manner。 From the first she gave proofs
of feminine courage； of inalterable serenity； like that of angels
appointed to shed peace on suffering hearts by a touch of their waving
palms。 But although she trained herself； through a premature
perception of duty； to hide her personal grief； it was none the less
bitter； her calm exterior was not in keeping with the deep trouble of
her thoughts； and she was destined to undergo； too early in life；
those terrible outbursts of feeling which no heart is wholly able to
subdue： her father was to hold her incessantly under the pressure of
natural youthful generosity on the one hand； and the dictates of
imperious duty on the other。 The cares which came upon her the very
day of her mother's death threw her into a struggle with the interests
of life at an age when young girls are thinking only of its pleasures。
Dreadful discipline of suffering； which is never lacking to angelic
natures！
The love which rests on money or on vanity is the most persevering of
passions。 Pierquin resolved to win the heiress without delay。 A few
days after Madame Claes's death he took occasion to speak to
Marguerite； and began operations with a cleverness which might have
succeeded if love had not given her the power of clear insight and
saved her from mistaking appearances that were all the more specious
because Pierquin displayed his natural kindheartedness；the
kindliness of a notary who thinks himself loving while he protects a
client's money。 Relying on his rather distant relationship and his
constant habit of managing the business and sharing the secrets of the
Claes family； sure of the esteem and friendship of the father； greatly
assisted by the careless inattention of that servant of science who
took no thought for the marriage of his daughter； and not suspecting
that Marguerite could prefer another；Pierquin unguardedly enabled
her to form a judgment on a suit in which there was no passion except
that of self…interest； always odious to a young soul； and which he was
not clever enough to conceal。 It was he who on this occasion was
naively above…board； it was she who dissimulated；simply because he
thought he was dealing with a defenceless girl； and wholly
misconceived the privileges of weakness。
〃My dear cousin；〃 he said to Marguerite； with whom he was walking
about the paths of the little garden； 〃you know my heart； you
understand how truly I desire to respect the painful feelings which
absorb you at this moment。 I have too sensitive a nature for a lawyer；
I live by my heart only； I am forced to spend my time on the interests
of others when I would fain let myself enjoy the sweet emotions which
make life happy。 I suffer deeply in being obliged to talk to you of
subjects so discordant with your state of mind； but it is necessary。 I
have thought much about you during the last few days。 It is evident
that through a fatal delusion the fortune of your brothers and sister
and your own are in jeopardy。 Do you wish to save your family from
complete ruin？〃
〃What must I do？〃 she asked； half…frightened by his words。
〃Marry；〃 answered Pierquin。
〃I shall not marry；〃 she said。
〃Yes； you will marry；〃 replied the notary； 〃when you have soberly
thought over the critical position in which you are placed。〃
〃How can my marriage save〃
〃Ah！ I knew you would consider it； my dear cousin；〃 he exclaimed；
interrupting her。 〃Marriage will emancipate you。〃
〃Why should I be emancipated？〃 asked Marguerite。
〃Because marriage will put you at once into possession of your
property； my dear little cousin；〃 said the lawyer in a tone of
triumph。 〃If you marry you take your share of your mother's property。
To give it to you； the whole property must be liquidated； to do that；
it becomes necessary to sell the forest of Waignies。 That done； the
proceeds will be capitalized； and your father； as guardian； will be
compelled to invest the fortune of his children in such a way that
Chemistry can't get hold of it。〃
〃And if I do not marry； what will happen？〃 she asked。
〃Well；〃 said the notary； 〃your father will manage your estate as he
pleases。 If he returns to making gold； he will probably sell the
timber of the forest of Waignies and leave his children as naked as
the little Saint Johns。 The forest is now worth about fourteen hundred
thousand francs； but from one day to another you are not sure your
father won't cut it down； and then your thirteen hundred acres are not
worth three hundred thousand francs。 Isn't it better to avoid this
almost certain danger by at once compelling the division of property
on your marriage？ If the forest is sold now； while Chemistry has gone
to sleep； your father will put the proceeds into the Grand…Livre。 The
Funds are at 59； those dear children will get nearly five thousand
francs a year for every fifty thousand francs： and； inasmuch as the
property of minors cannot be sold out； your brothers and sister will
find their fortunes doubled in value by the time they come o