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she pleased him。 Every member of the family was curious to know what
this capricious creature thought of the stranger； but when； during
dinner； every one chose to endow Monsieur Longueville with some fresh
quality which no one else had discovered； Mademoiselle de Fontaine sat
for some time in silence。 A sarcastic remark of her uncle's suddenly
roused her from her apathy； she said； somewhat epigrammatically； that
such heavenly perfection must cover some great defect； and that she
would take good care how she judged so gifted a man at first sight。
〃Those who please everybody； please nobody；〃 she added； 〃and the worst
of all faults is to have none。〃
Like all girls who are in love； Emilie cherished the hope of being
able to hide her feelings at the bottom of her heart by putting the
Argus…eyes that watched on the wrong tack； but by the end of a
fortnight there was not a member of the large family party who was not
in this little domestic secret。 When Monsieur Longueville called for
the third time； Emilie believed it was chiefly for her sake。 This
discovery gave her such intoxicating pleasure that she was startled as
she reflected on it。 There was something in it very painful to her
pride。 Accustomed as she was to be the centre of her world； she was
obliged to recognize a force that attracted her outside herself； she
tried to resist； but she could not chase from her heart the
fascinating image of the young man。
Then came some anxiety。 Two of Monsieur Longueville's qualities； very
adverse to general curiosity； and especially to Mademoiselle de
Fontaine's； were unexpected modesty and discretion。 He never spoke of
himself； of his pursuits； or of his family。 The hints Emilie threw out
in conversation； and the traps she laid to extract from the young
fellow some facts concerning himself； he could evade with the
adroitness of a diplomatist concealing a secret。 If she talked of
painting； he responded as a connoisseur； if she sat down to play； he
showed without conceit that he was a very good pianist； one evening he
delighted all the party by joining his delightful voice to Emilie's in
one of Cimarosa's charming duets。 But when they tried to find out
whether he were a professional singer； he baffled them so pleasantly
that he did not afford these women； practised as they were in the art
of reading feelings； the least chance of discovering to what social
sphere he belonged。 However boldly the old uncle cast the boarding…
hooks over the vessel； Longueville slipped away cleverly； so as to
preserve the charm of mystery； and it was easy to him to remain the
〃handsome Stranger〃 at the Villa； because curiosity never overstepped
the bounds of good breeding。
Emilie； distracted by this reserve； hoped to get more out of the
sister than the brother； in the form of confidences。 Aided by her
uncle； who was as skilful in such manoeuvres as in handling a ship；
she endeavored to bring upon the scene the hitherto unseen figure of
Mademoiselle Clara Longueville。 The family party at the Villa Planat
soon expressed the greatest desire to make the acquaintance of so
amiable a young lady； and to give her some amusement。 An informal
dance was proposed and accepted。 The ladies did not despair of making
a young girl of sixteen talk。
Notwithstanding the little clouds piled up by suspicion and created by
curiosity； a light of joy shone in Emilie's soul； for she found life
delicious when thus intimately connected with another than herself。
She began to understand the relations of life。 Whether it is that
happiness makes us better； or that she was too fully occupied to
torment other people； she became less caustic； more gentle； and
indulgent。 This change in her temper enchanted and amazed her family。
Perhaps； at last； her selfishness was being transformed to love。 It
was a deep delight to her to look for the arrival of her bashful and
unconfessed adorer。 Though they had not uttered a word of passion； she
knew that she was loved； and with what art did she not lead the
stranger to unlock the stores of his information； which proved to be
varied！ She perceived that she； too； was being studied； and that made
her endeavor to remedy the defects her education had encouraged。 Was
not this her first homage to love； and a bitter reproach to herself？
She desired to please； and she was enchanting； she loved； and she was
idolized。 Her family； knowing that her pride would sufficiently
protect her； gave her enough freedom to enjoy the little childish
delights which give to first love its charm and its violence。 More
than once the young man and Mademoiselle de Fontaine walked； tete…a…
tete； in the avenues of the garden； where nature was dressed like a
woman going to a ball。 More than once they had those conversations；
aimless and meaningless； in which the emptiest phrases are those which
cover the deepest feelings。 They often admired together the setting
sun and its gorgeous coloring。 They gathered daisies to pull the
petals off； and sang the most impassioned duets； using the notes set
down by Pergolesi or Rossini as faithful interpreters to express their
secrets。
The day of the dance came。 Clara Longueville and her brother； whom the
servants persisted in honoring with the noble DE； were the principle
guests。 For the first time in her life Mademoiselle de Fontaine felt
pleasure in a young girl's triumph。 She lavished on Clara in all
sincerity the gracious petting and little attentions which women
generally give each other only to excite the jealousy of men。 Emilie；
had； indeed； an object in view； she wanted to discover some secrets。
But； being a girl； Mademoiselle Longueville showed even more mother…
wit than her brother； for she did not even look as if she were hiding
a secret； and kept the conversation to subjects unconnected with
personal interests； while； at the same time； she gave it so much charm
that Mademoiselle de Fontaine was almost envious； and called her 〃the
Siren。〃 Though Emilie had intended to make Clara talk； it was Clara；
in fact； who questioned Emilie； she had meant to judge her； and she
was judged by her； she was constantly provoked to find that she had
betrayed her own character in some reply which Clara had extracted
from her； while her modest and candid manner prohibited any suspicion
of perfidy。 There was a moment when Mademoiselle de Fontaine seemed
sorry for an ill…judged sally against the commonalty to which Clara
had led her。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said the sweet child； 〃I have heard so much of you
from Maximilien that I had the keenest desire to know you； out of
affection for him； but is not a wish to know you a wish to love you？〃
〃My dear Clara； I feared I might have displeased you by speaking thus
of people who are not of noble birth。〃
〃Oh； be quite easy。 That sort of discussion is pointless in these
days。 As for me； it does not affect me。 I am beside the question。〃
Ambitious as the answer might seem； it filled Madem