The bark which carried her fortune, on reaching port, had caught fire, and it was necessary to begin laboring again amid cares and pains.
A dull rage filled her heart.

To have so surely built up the edifice of her happiness, to have embellished it every hour, and then to see an intruder audaciously taking possession of it, and making his despotic and hateful authority prevail! And what could she do against this new master?
Nothing.

He was marvellously protected by Micheline's mad love for him.

To strike Serge would be to wound Micheline, surely and mortally.

So this scoundrel could laugh at her and dare her with impunity! What must she do?
Take him aside and tell him that she knew of his disloyal conduct, and tell him of her contempt and hatred for him?
And after that?
What would be the consequence of this outburst of violence?
The Prince, using his power over Micheline, would separate the daughter from the mother.