She had a way of treating young men with a sort of motherly kindness, as though they were still little bread-and-butter-eating urchins; and on the occasion of a certain dramatic representation, she horrified her mother by appearing in a male character, with a riding-whip and a little beard, which she twisted about in the most fascinating way.

But she looked so wondrously lovely, even thus attired, that her mother could not chide in earnest.
If, however, there was any one not entirely satisfied with this way of life, it was the baroness.

A certain preoccupation and restlessness had stolen over her husband--the cloudless serenity of former years was gone.

It was but a slight change, visible only to the wife's eyes; and even she owned to herself that she was hardly justified in grieving over it.
Just at this time, too, a great joy awaited her.

Eugene had passed his examination, and promised them a visit to show them his epaulettes.