All this she said to him, treating him like a child whose happiness she wished to ensure even at the price of her own; and he, his eyes again lowered, listened without further protest, pleased indeed to let her arrange a happy life for him.
Examining the situation from every aspect, she at last began to recapitulate the points in favour of that abominable marriage, the thought of which had so intensely distressed her.

"It is certain," she said, "that Camille would bring you all that I should like you to have.
With her, I need hardly say it, would come plenty, affluence.

And as for the rest, well, I do not wish to excuse myself or you, but I could name twenty households in which there have been worse things.

Besides, I was wrong when I said that money opened a gap between people.

On the contrary, it draws them nearer together, it secures forgiveness for every fault; so nobody would dare to blame you, there would only be jealous ones around you, dazzled by your good fortune." Gerard rose, apparently rebelling once more.