By declaring children
irresponsible for their mother's faults, you will break the
strongest tie that binds a woman to duty. If the son of a pure
and virtuous wife, and the son of an adulterous woman meet upon
equal ground, those who are held in check only by the thought of
their children will finally say to themselves, what does it
matter?"
It was the first time that a cloud had ever arisen between mother
and son. On hearing his dearest hopes thus attacked, Pascal was
tempted to rebel, and a flood of bitter words rose to his lips.
However he had strength enough to control himself. "Marguerite
alone can triumph over these implacable prejudices," he thought;
"when my mother knows her, she will feel how unjust they are!"
And as he found it difficult to remain master of himself, he
stammered some excuse, and abruptly retired to his own room, where
he threw himself on his bed. He felt that it was not his place to
reproach his mother or censure her for her opinions. What mother
had ever been so devoted as she had been? And who knows?--it was,
perhaps, from these same rigid prejudices that this simple-minded
and heroic woman had derived her energy, her enthusiastic love of
God, her hatred of evil, and that virility of spirit which
misfortune had been powerless to daunt. Besides, had she not
promised to offer no opposition to his marriage! And was not this
a great concession, a sacrifice which must have cost her a severe
struggle? And where can one find the mother who does not count as
one of the sublime joys of maternity the task of seeking a wife
for her son, of choosing from among all others the young girl who
will be the companion of his life, the angel of his dark and of
his prosperous days? His mind was occupied with these thoughts
when his door suddenly opened, and he sprang up, exclaiming: "Who
is it?"
It was Madame Vantrasson, who came to announce that dinner was
ready--a dinner which she had herself prepared, for on going out
Madame Ferailleur had left her in charge of the household.
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