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early youth； her lightest wishes had been law to her sisters； her
brothers； her mother； and even her father。 All her relations doted on
her。 Having come to years of discretion just when her family was
loaded with the favors of fortune； the enchantment of life continued。
The luxury of Paris seemed to her just as natural as a wealth of
flowers or fruit； or as the rural plenty which had been the joy of her
first years。 Just as in her childhood she had never been thwarted in
the satisfaction of her playful desires； so now； at fourteen； she was
still obeyed when she rushed into the whirl of fashion。
Thus； accustomed by degrees to the enjoyment of money； elegance of
dress； of gilded drawing…rooms and fine carriages； became as necessary
to her as the compliments of flattery； sincere or false； and the
festivities and vanities of court life。 Like most spoiled children；
she tyrannized over those who loved her； and kept her blandishments
for those who were indifferent。 Her faults grew with her growth； and
her parents were to gather the bitter fruits of this disastrous
education。 At the age of nineteen Emilie de Fontaine had not yet been
pleased to make a choice from among the many young men whom her
father's politics brought to his entertainments。 Though so young； she
asserted in society all the freedom of mind that a married woman can
enjoy。 Her beauty was so remarkable that； for her； to appear in a room
was to be its queen； but； like sovereigns； she had no friends； though
she was everywhere the object of attentions to which a finer nature
than hers might perhaps have succumbed。 Not a man； not even an old
man； had it in him to contradict the opinions of a young girl whose
lightest look could rekindle love in the coldest heart。
She had been educated with a care which her sisters had not enjoyed；
painted pretty well； spoke Italian and English； and played the piano
brilliantly； her voice； trained by the best masters； had a ring in it
which made her singing irresistibly charming。 Clever； and intimate
with every branch of literature； she might have made folks believe
that； as Mascarille says； people of quality come into the world
knowing everything。 She could argue fluently on Italian or Flemish
painting； on the Middle Ages or the Renaissance； pronounced at
haphazard on books new or old； and could expose the defects of a work
with a cruelly graceful wit。 The simplest thing she said was accepted
by an admiring crowd as a fetfah of the Sultan by the Turks。 She thus
dazzled shallow persons； as to deeper minds； her natural tact enabled
her to discern them； and for them she put forth so much fascination
that； under cover of her charms； she escaped their scrutiny。 This
enchanting veneer covered a careless heart； the opinioncommon to
many young girlsthat no one else dwelt in a sphere so lofty as to be
able to understand the merits of her soul； and a pride based no less
on her birth than on her beauty。 In the absence of the overwhelming
sentiment which； sooner or later； works havoc in a woman's heart； she
spent her young ardor in an immoderate love of distinctions； and
expressed the deepest contempt for persons of inferior birth。
Supremely impertinent to all newly…created nobility； she made every
effort to get her parents recognized as equals by the most illustrious
families of the Saint…Germain quarter。
These sentiments had not escaped the observing eye of Monsieur de
Fontaine； who more than once； when his two elder girls were married；
had smarted under Emilie's sarcasm。 Logical readers will be surprised
to see the old Royalist bestowing his eldest daughter on a Receiver…
General； possessed； indeed； of some old hereditary estates； but whose
name was not preceded by the little word to which the throne owed so
many partisans； and his second to a magistrate too lately Baronified
to obscure the fact that his father had sold firewood。 This noteworthy
change in the ideas of a noble on the verge of his sixtieth yearan
age when men rarely renounce their convictionswas due not merely to
his unfortunate residence in the modern Babylon； where； sooner or
later； country folks all get their corners rubbed down； the Comte de
Fontaine's new political conscience was also a result of the King's
advice and friendship。 The philosophical prince had taken pleasure in
converting the Vendeen to the ideas required by the advance of the
nineteenth century； and the new aspect of the Monarchy。 Louis XVIII。
aimed at fusing parties as Napoleon had fused things and men。 The
legitimate King； who was not less clever perhaps than his rival； acted
in a contrary direction。 The last head of the House of Bourbon was
just as eager to satisfy the third estate and the creations of the
Empire； by curbing the clergy； as the first of the Napoleons had been
to attract the grand old nobility； or to endow the Church。 The Privy
Councillor； being in the secret of these royal projects； had
insensibly become one of the most prudent and influential leaders of
that moderate party which most desired a fusion of opinion in the
interests of the nation。 He preached the expensive doctrines of
constitutional government； and lent all his weight to encourage the
political see…saw which enabled his master to rule France in the midst
of storms。 Perhaps Monsieur de Fontaine hoped that one of the sudden
gusts of legislation； whose unexpected efforts then startled the
oldest politicians； might carry him up to the rank of peer。 One of his
most rigid principles was to recognize no nobility in France but that
of the peeragethe only families that might enjoy any privileges。
〃A nobility bereft of privileges；〃 he would say； 〃is a tool without a
handle。〃
As far from Lafayette's party as he was from La Bourdonnaye's； he
ardently engaged in the task of general reconciliation； which was
to result in a new era and splendid fortunes for France。 He
strove to convince the families who frequented his drawing…room；
or those whom he visited； how few favorable openings would
henceforth be offered by a civil or military career。 He urged
mothers to give their boys a start in independent and industrial
professions； explaining that military posts and high Government
appointments must at last pertain； in a quite constitutional
order； to the younger sons of members of the peerage。 According
to him； the people had conquered a sufficiently large share in
practical government by its elective assembly； its appointments
to law…offices； and those of the exchequer； which； said he； would
always； as heretofore； be the natural right of the distinguished
men of the third estate。
These new notions of the head of the Fontaines； and the prudent
matches for his eldest girls to which they had led； met with strong
resistance in the bosom of his family。 The Comtesse de Fontaine
remained faithful to the ancient beliefs which no woman could disown；
who； through her mother； belonged to the Rohans。 Although she had for
a while