She manifested her disappointment by pushing the dog aside with her foot--the poor thing was perfectly innocent!--and in a cross tone, which was much more familiar than her former coaxing one, she continued: "Very well, since I am wrong, since your husband adores you and you him, since, to sum it all up, your heart is perfectly tranquil and free, your conduct is devoid of common-sense, and I advise you to change it.

I warn you that all this hypochondria, paleness, and languor are caprices which are very disagreeable to others.

There is a Provence proverb which says: Vaillance de Blacas, prudence de Pontevez, caprice de Corandeuil.

If there was not such a saying, it should be created for you, for you have something incomprehensible enough in your character to make a saint swear.

If anybody should know you, it is I, who brought you up.