Monsieur George, let me speak frankly with you: are you afraid of falling in love with Madame de Palme ?" "Not in the least, madam." "Are you anxious that she should fall in love with you ?" "Neither, I assure you." "Well, then, do me a favor; lay aside your pride for one day, and escort Madame de Palme to the hunt." "Madam!" "The advice may seem singular to you.

But rest assured that I do not offer it without mature reflection.

The repulsion which you manifest for Madame de Palme is precisely what attracts toward you that imperious and spoilt child.

She becomes irritated and obstinate in presence of a resistance to which she has not been accustomed.

Be meek enough to yield to her fancy.
Do that for me." "Seriously madam, you think?
--" "I think," interrupted the old lady laughingly, "with due respect to you, that you will lose your principal merit in her eyes as soon as she sees you submit to her yoke like all the rest." "Really, madam, you present things to me under an entirely novel aspect.
It never occurred to me to attribute Madame de Palme's mischievous pranks to a sentiment of which I might have reason to be proud." "And you have been quite right," she resumed sharply; "there is, thank heaven! nothing of the kind as yet; but it might have come and you are too fair a man to desire it, with the views which I know you to entertain." "I trust myself wholly to your direction, madam; I am going too fetch my hat and gloves.