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and he has said sweet words to you； and you have listened to them。〃
Felicie blushed。 〃Don't defend yourself； my angel；〃 continued
Marguerite； 〃it is so natural to love！ Perhaps your dear nature will
improve his； he is egotistical and self…interested； but for all that
he is a good man； and his defects may even add to your happiness。 He
will love you as the best of his possessions； you will be a part of
his business affairs。 Forgive me this one word； dear love； you will
soon correct the bad habit he has acquired of seeing money in
everything； by teaching him the business of the heart。〃
Felicie could only kiss her sister。
〃Besides；〃 added Marguerite； 〃he has property； and his family belongs
to the highest and the oldest bourgeoisie。 But you don't think I would
oppose your happiness even if the conditions were less prosperous； do
you？〃
Felicie let fall the words； 〃Dear sister。〃
〃Yes； you may confide in me；〃 cried Marguerite； 〃sisters can surely
tell each other their secrets。〃
These words； so full of heartiness； opened the way to one of those
delightful conversations in which young girls tell all。 When
Marguerite； expert in love； reached an understanding of the real state
of Felicie's heart； she wound up their talk by saying：
〃Well； dear child； let us make sure he truly loves you； andthen〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Felicie； laughing； 〃leave me to my own devices； I have a
model before my eyes。〃
〃Saucy child！〃 exclaimed Marguerite； kissing her。
Though Pierquin belonged to the class of men who regard marriage as
the accomplishment of a social duty and the means of transmitting
property； and though he was indifferent to which sister he should
marry so long as both had the same name and the same dower； he did
perceive that the two were； to use his own expression； 〃romantic and
sentimental girls；〃 adjectives employed by commonplace people to
ridicule the gifts which Nature sows with grudging hand along the
furrows of humanity。 The lawyer no doubt said to himself that he had
better swim with the stream； and accordingly the next day he came to
see Marguerite； and took her mysteriously into the little garden；
where he began to talk sentiment；that being one of the clauses of
the primal contract which； according to social usage； must precede the
notarial contract。
〃Dear cousin；〃 he said； 〃you and I have not always been of one mind as
to the best means of bringing your affairs to a happy conclusion； but
you do now； I am sure； admit that I have always been guided by a great
desire to be useful to you。 Well； yesterday I spoiled my offer by a
fatal habit which the legal profession forces upon usyou understand
me？ My heart did not share in the folly。 I have loved you well； but I
have a certain perspicacity； legal perhaps； which obliges me to see
that I do not please you。 It is my own fault； another has been more
successful than I。 Well； I come now to tell you； like an honest man；
that I sincerely love your sister Felicie。 Treat me therefore as a
brother； accept my purse； take what you will from it；the more you
take the better you prove your regard for me。 I am wholly at your
serviceWITHOUT INTEREST； you understand； neither at twelve nor at
one quarter per cent。 Let me be thought worthy of Felicie； that is all
I ask。 Forgive my defects； they come from business habits； my heart is
good； and I would fling myself into the Scarpe sooner than not make my
wife happy。〃
〃This is all satisfactory； cousin；〃 answered Marguerite； 〃but my
sister's choice depends upon herself and also on my father's will。〃
〃I know that； my dear cousin；〃 said the lawyer； 〃but you are the
mother of the whole family； and I have nothing more at heart than that
you should judge me rightly。〃
This conversation paints the mind of the honest notary。 Later in life；
Pierquin became celebrated by his reply to the commanding officer at
Saint…Omer； who had invited him to be present at a military fete； the
note ran as follows： 〃Monsieur Pierquin…Claes de Molina…Nourho； mayor
of the city of Douai； chevalier of the Legion of honor； will have THAT
of being present； etc。〃
Marguerite accepted the lawyer's offer only so far as it related to
his professional services； so that she might not in any degree
compromise either her own dignity as a woman； or her sister's future；
or her father's authority。
The next day she confided Felicie to the care of Martha and Josette
（who vowed themselves body and soul to their young mistress； and
seconded all her economies）； and started herself for Waignies； where
she began operations； which were judiciously overlooked and directed
by Pierquin。 Devotion was now set down as a good speculation in the
mind of that worthy man； his care and trouble were in fact an
investment； and he had no wish to be niggardly in making it。 First he
contrived to save Marguerite the trouble of clearing the land and
working the ground intended for the farms。 He found three young men；
sons of rich farmers； who were anxious to settle themselves in life；
and he succeeded； through the prospect he held out to them of the
fertility of the land； in making them take leases of the three farms
on which the buildings were to be constructed。 To gain possession of
the farms rent…free for three years the tenants bound themselves to
pay ten thousand francs a year the fourth year； twelve thousand the
sixth year； and fifteen thousand for the remainder of the term； to
drain the land； make the plantations； and purchase the cattle。 While
the buildings were being put up the farmers were to clear the land。
Four years after Balthazar Claes's departure from his home Marguerite
had almost recovered the property of her brothers and sister。 Two
hundred thousand francs； lent to her by Emmanuel； had sufficed to put
up the farm buildings。 Neither help nor counsel was withheld from the
brave girl； whose conduct excited the admiration of the whole town。
Marguerite superintended the buildings； and looked after her contracts
and leases with the good sense； activity； and perseverance； which
women know so well how to call up when they are actuated by a strong
sentiment。 By the fifth year she was able to apply thirty thousand
francs from the rental of the farms； together with the income from the
Funds standing in her brother's name； and the proceeds of her father's
property； towards paying off the mortgages on that property； and
repairing the devastation which her father's passion had wrought in
the old mansion of the Claes。 This redemption went on more rapidly as
the interest account decreased。 Emmanuel de Solis persuaded Marguerite
to take the remaining one hundred thousand francs of his uncle's
bequest； and by joining to it twenty thousand francs of his own
savings； pay off in the third year of her management a large slice of
the debts。 This life of courage； privation； and endurance was never
relaxed for five years； but all went well；everything prospered under