第2章

Butitismyaunt，anoldmaid；and，also，mymotheriscrazyabouttheidea。IfIweretobackoutnow，shewoulddieofchagrin。Myauntwoulddisinheritme，andsheistheonewhohasthefamilyfortune。Then，too，thereismyfather—in—law，aregulardragoonforhisprinciples——severe，violent。Henevermakesajokeofseriousthings，andItellyouitwouldcostmedear，terriblydear。And，besides，Ihavegivenmyword。"

"Youmusttakebackyourword。"

"Youstillinsist？"exclaimedGeorge，indespair。"Butthen，supposethatitwerepossible，howcouldItakebackmysignaturewhichIputatthebottomofthedeed？Ihavepledgedmyselftopayintwomonthsfortheattorney’spracticeIhavepurchased!"

"Sir，"saidthedoctor，"allthesethings——"

"YouaregoingtotellmethatIwaslackinginprudence，thatI

shouldneverhavedisposedofmywife’sdowryuntilafterthehoneymoon!"

"Sir，"saidthedoctor，again，"alltheseconsiderationsareforeigntome。Iamaphysician，andnothingbutaphysician，andIcanonlytellyouthis：Ifyoumarrybeforethreeorfouryears，youwillbeacriminal。"

Georgebrokeoutwithawildexclamation。"Nosir，youarenotmerelyaphysician!Youarealsoaconfessor!Youarenotmerelyascientist；anditisnotenoughforyouthatyouobservemeasyouwouldsomelifelessthinginyourlaboratory，andsay，’Youhavethis；sciencesaysthat；nowgoalongwithyou。’Allmyexistencedependsuponyou。Itisyourdutytolistentome，becausewhenyouknoweverythingyouwillunderstandme，andyouwillfindsomewaytocuremewithinamonth。"

"But，"protestedthedoctor，"Iwearmyselfouttellingyouthatsuchmeansdonotexist。Ishallnotbecertainofyourcure，asmuchasanyonecanbecertain，inlessthanthreeorfouryears。"

Georgewasalmostbesidehimself。"Itellyouyoumustfindsomemeans!Listentome，sir——ifIdon’tgetmarriedIdon’tgetthedowry!AndwillyoutellmehowIcanpaythenotesIhavesigned？"

"Oh，"saidthedoctor，dryly，"ifthatisthequestion，itisverysimple——Iwillgiveyouaplantogetoutoftheaffair。

Youwillgoandgetacquaintedwithsomerichman；youwilldoeverythingyoucantogainhisconfidence；andwhenyouhavesucceeded，youwillplunderhim。"

Georgeshookhishead。"Iamnotinanymoodforjoking。"

"Iamnotjoking，"repliedhisadviser。"Robthatman，assassinatehimeven——thatwouldbenoworsecrimethanyouwouldcommitintakingayounggirlingoodhealthinordertogetaportionofherdowry，whenatthesametimeyouwouldhavetoexposehertothefrightfulconsequencesofthediseasewhichyouwouldgiveher。"

"Frightfulconsequences？"echoedGeorge。

"Consequencesofwhichdeathwouldnotbethemostfrightful。"

"But，sir，youweresayingtomejustnow——"

"JustnowIdidnottellyoueverything。Evenreduced，suppressedalittlebyourremedies，thediseaseremainsmysterious，menacing，andititssum，sufficientlygrave。Soitwouldbeaninfamytoexposeyourfianceeinordertoavoidaninconvenience，howevergreatthatmightbe。"

ButGeorgewasstillnottobeconvinced。WasitcertainthatthismisfortunewouldbefallHenriette，evenwiththebestattention？

Saidtheother："Idonotwishtolietoyou。No，itisnotabsolutelycertain，itisprobable。AndthereisanothertruthwhichIwishtotellyounow：ourremediesarenotinfallible。

Inacertainnumberofcases——averysmallnumber，scarcelyfivepercent——theyhaveremainedwithouteffect。Youmightbeoneofthoseexceptions，yourwifemightbeone。Whatthen？"

"Iwillemployawordyouusedjustnow，yourself。Weshouldhavetoexpecttheworstcatastrophes。"

Georgesatinastateofcompletedespair。

"Tellmewhattodo，then，"hesaid。

"Icantellyouonlyonething：don’tmarry。Youhaveamostseriousblemish。Itisasifyouowedadebt。Perhapsnoonewillevercometoclaimit；ontheotherhand，perhapsapitilesscreditorwillcomeallatonce，presentingabrutaldemandforimmediatepayment。Comenow——youareabusinessman。Marriageisacontract；tomarrywithoutsayinganything——thatmeanstoenterintoabargainbymeansofpassivedissimulation。That’stheterm，isitnot？Itisdishonesty，anditoughttocomeunderthelaw。"

George，beingalawyer，couldappreciatetheargument，andcouldthinkofnothingtosaytoit。

"WhatshallIdo？"heasked。

Theotheranswered，"Gotoyourfather—in—lawandtellhimfranklythetruth。"

"But，"criedtheyoungman，wildly，"therewillbenoquestionthenofthreeorfouryears’delay。Hewillrefusehisconsentaltogether。"

"Ifthatisthecase，"saidthedoctor，"don’ttellhimanything。"

"ButIhavetogivehimareason，orIdon’tknowwhathewilldo。Heisthesortofmantogivehimselftotheworstviolence，andagainmyfianceewouldbelosttome。Listen，doctor。FromeverythingIhavesaidtoyou，youmayperhapsthinkIamamercenaryman。ItistruethatIwanttogetalongintheworld，thatisonlynatural。ButHenriettehassuchqualities；sheissomuchbetterthanI，thatIloveher，really，aspeopleloveinnovels。Mygreatestgrief——itisnottogiveupthepracticeI

havebought——although，indeed，itwouldbeabitterblowtome；

mygreatestgriefwouldbetoloseHenriette。Ifyoucouldonlyseeher，ifyouonlyknewher——thenyouwouldunderstand。Ihaveherpicturehere——"

Theyoungfellowtookouthiscard—case。Andofferedaphotographtothedoctor，whogentlyrefusedit。Theotherblushedwithembarrassment。

"Ibegyourpardon，"hesaid，"Iamridiculous。Thathappenstome，sometimes。Only，putyourselfinmyplace——Iloveherso!"

Hisvoicebroke。

"Mydearboy，"saidthedoctor，feelingly，"thatisexactlywhyyououghtnottomarryher。"

"But，"hecried，"ifIbackoutwithoutsayinganythingtheywillguessthetruth，andIshallbedishonored。"

"Oneisnotdishonoredbecauseoneisill。"

"Butwithsuchadisease!Peoplearesostupid。Imyself，yesterday——Ishouldhavelaughedatanyonewhohadgotintosuchaplight；Ishouldhaveavoidedhim，Ishouldhavedespisedhim!"

AndsuddenlyGeorgebrokedownagain。"Oh!"hecried，"ifIweretheonlyonetosuffer；butshe——sheisinlovewithme。Iswearittoyou!Sheissogood；andshewillbesounhappy!"

Thedoctoranswered，"Shewouldbeunhappierlateron。"

"Itwillbeascandal!"Georgeexclaimed。

"Youwillavoidonefargreater，"theotherreplied。

SuddenlyGeorgesethislipswithresolution。Herosefromhisseat。Hetookseveraltwenty—francpiecesfromhispocketandlaidthemquietlyuponthedoctor’sdesk——payingthefeeincash，sothathewouldnothavetogivehisnameandaddress。Hetookuphisgloves，hiscaneandhishat，androse。

"Iwillthinkitover，"hesaid。"Ithankyou，Doctor。Iwillcomebacknextweekasyouhavetoldme。Thatis——probablyI

will。"

Hewasabouttoleave。

Thedoctorrose，andhespokeinavoiceoffuriousanger。"No，"

hesaid，"Ishan’tseeyounextweek，andyouwon’teventhinkitover。Youcamehereknowingwhatyouhad；youcametoaskadviceofme，withtheintentionofpayingnoheedtoit，unlessitconformedtoyourwishes。Asuperficialhonestyhasdrivenyoutotakethatchanceinordertosatisfyyourconscience。Youwantedtohavesomebodyuponwhomyoucouldputoff，byeandbye，theconsequencesofanactwhoseculpabilityyouunderstand!No，don’tprotest!Manyofthosewhocomeherethinkandactasyouthink，andasyouwishtoact；butthemarriagemadeagainstmywillhasgenerallybeenthesourceofsuchcalamitiesthatnowI

amalwaysafraidofnothavingbeenpersuasiveenough，anditevenseemstomethatIamalittletoblameforthesemisfortunes。Ishouldhavebeenabletopreventthem；theywouldnothavehappenedifthosewhoaretheauthorsofthemknewwhatIknowandhadseenwhatIhaveseen。Sweartome，sir，thatyouaregoingtobreakoffthatmarriage!"

Georgewasgreatlyembarrassed，andunwillingtoreply。"I

cannotsweartoyouatall，Doctor；IcanonlytellyouagainthatIwillthinkitover。"

"ThatWHATover？"

"Whatyouhavetoldme。"

"WhatIhavetoldyouistrue!Youcannotbringanynewobjections；andIhaveansweredthosewhichyouhavepresentedtome；therefore，yourmindoughttobemadeup。"

Gropingforareply，Georgehesitated。Hecouldnotdenythathehadmadeinquiryaboutthesemattersbeforehehadcometothedoctor。Buthesaidthathewasnotalallcertainthathehadthisdisease。Thedoctordeclaredit，andperhapsitwastrue，butthemostlearnedphysiciansweresometimesdeceived。

Herememberedsomethinghehadreadinoneofthemedicalbooks。

"Dr。Ricordmaintainsthatafteracertainperiodthediseaseisnolongercontagious。Hehasprovenhiscontentionsbyexamples。

Todayyouproducenewexamplestoshowthatheiswrong!Now，I

wanttodowhat’sright，butsurelyIhavetherighttothinkitover。AndwhenIthinkitover，Irealizethatalltheevilswithwhichyouthreatenmeareonlyprobableevils。Inspiteofyourdesiretoterrifyme，youhavebeenforcedtoadmitthatpossiblymymarriagewouldnothaveanytroublesomeconsequenceformywife。"

Thedoctorfounddifficultyinrestraininghimself。Buthesaid，"Goon。Iwillansweryouafterwards。"

AndGeorgeblunderedaheadinhisdesperation。"Yourremediesarepowerful，youtellme；andforthecalamitiesofwhichyouspeaktobefallme，Iwouldhavetobeamongtherareexceptions——alsomywifewouldhavetobeamongthenumberofthoserareexceptions。Ifamathematicianweretoapplythelawofchancetothesefacts，theresultofhisoperationwouldshowbutslightchanceofacatastrophe，ascomparedwiththeabsolutecertaintyofaseriesofmisfortunes，sufferings，troubles，tears，andperhapstragicaccidentswhichthebreakingofmyengagementwouldcause。SoIsaythatthemathematician——whois，evenmorethanyou，amanofscience，amanofamoreinfalliblescience——themathematicianwouldconcludethatwisdomwasnotwithyoudoctors，butwithme。"

"Youbelieveit，sir!"exclaimedtheother。"Butyoudeceiveyourself。"Andhecontinued，drivinghomehispointwithafingerwhichseemedtoGeorgetopiercehisverysoul。"Twentycasesidenticalwithyourownhavebeenpatientlyobserved，fromthebeginningtotheend。Nineteentimesthewomanwasinfectedbyherhusband；youhearme，sir，nineteentimesoutoftwenty!

Youbelievethatthediseaseiswithoutdanger，andyoutaketoyourselftherighttoexposeyourwifetowhatyoucallthechanceofyourbeingoneofthoseexceptions，forwhomourremediesarewithouteffect。Verywell；itisnecessarythatyoushouldknowthediseasewhichyourwife，withoutbeingconsulted，willrunachanceofcontracting。Takethatbook，sir；itistheworkofmyteacher。Readityourself。Here，Ihavemarkedthepassage。"

Heheldouttheopenbook；butGeorgecouldnotliftahandtotakeit。

"Youdonotwishtoreadit？"theothercontinued。"Listentome。"Andinavoicetremblingwithpassion，heread："’Ihavewatchedthespectacleofanunfortunateyoungwoman，turnedintoaveritablemonsterbymeansofasyphiliticinfection。Herface，orratherletmesaywhatwasleftofherface，wasnothingbutaflatsurfaceseamedwithscars。’"

Georgecoveredhisface，exclaiming，"Enough，sir!Havemercy!"

Buttheothercried，"No，no!Iwillgototheveryend。Ihaveadutytoperform，andIwillnotbestoppedbythesensibilityofyournerves。"

Hewentonreading："’Oftheupperlipnotatracewasleft；theridgeoftheuppergumsappearedperfectlybare。’"Butthenattheyoungman’sprotests，hisresolutionfailedhim。"Come，"hesaid，"Iwillstop。Iamsorryforyou——youwhoacceptforanotherperson，forthewomanyousayyoulove，thechanceofadiseasewhichyoucannotevenenduretoheardescribed。Now，fromwhomdidthatwomangetsyphilis？ItisnotIwhoamspeaking，itisthebook。’Fromamiserablescoundrelwhowasnotafraidtoenterintomatrimonywhenhehadasecondaryeruption。’Allthatwasestablishedlateron——’andwho，moreover，hadthoughtitbestnottolethiswifebetreatedforfearofawakeninghersuspicions!’"

Thedoctorclosedthebookwithabang。"Whatthatmanhasdone，sir，iswhatyouwanttodo。"

Georgewasedgingtowardthedoor；hecouldnolongerlookthedoctorintheeye。"IshoulddeserveallthoseepithetsandstillmorebrutalonesifIshouldmarry，knowingthatmymarriagewouldcausesuchhorrors。ButthatIdonotbelieve。

Youandyourteachers——youarespecialists，andconsequentlyyouaredriventoattributeeverythingtothediseaseyoumakethesubjectofyourstudies。Atragiccase，anexceptionalcase，holdsakindoffascinationforyou；youthinkitcanneverbetalkedaboutenough。"

"Ihaveheardthatargumentbefore，"saidthedoctor，withaneffortatpatience。

"Letmegoon，Ibegyou，"pleadedGeorge。"Youhavetoldmethatoutofeverysevenmenthereisonesyphilitic。YouhavetoldmethatthereareonehundredthousandinParis，comingandgoing，alert，andapparentlywell。"

"Itistrue，"saidthedoctor，"thatthereareonehundredthousandwhoareactuallyatthismomentnotvisiblyundertheinfluenceofthedisease。Butmanythousandshavepassedintoourhospitals，victimsofthemostfrightfulravagesthatourpoorbodiescansupport。These——youdonotseethem，andtheydonotcountforyou。Butagain，ifitconcernednoonebutyourself，youmightbeabletoarguethus。WhatIdeclaretoyou，whatIaffirmwithalltheviolenceofmyconviction，isthatyouhavenottherighttoexposeahumancreaturetosuchchances——rare，asIknow，butterrible，asIknowstillbetter。

Whathaveyoutoanswertothat？"

"Nothing，"stammeredGeorge，broughttohiskneesatlast。"Youarerightaboutthat。Idon’tknowwhattothink。"

"Andinforbiddingyoumarriage，"continuedthedoctor，"isitthesameasifIforbadeitforever？IsitthesameasifItoldyouthatyoucouldneverbecured？Onthecontrary，Iholdouttoyoueveryhope；butIdemandofyouadelayofthreeorfouryears，becauseitwilltakemethattimetofindoutifyouareamongthenumberofthoseunfortunateoneswhomIpitywithallmyheart，forwhomthediseaseiswithoutmercy；becauseduringthattimeyouwillbedangeroustoyourwifeandtoyourchildren。ThechildrenIhavenotyetmentionedtoyou。"

Herethedoctor’svoicetrembledslightly。Hespokewithmovingeloquence。"Come，sir，youareanhonestman；youaretooyoungforsuchthingsnottomoveyou；youarenotinsensibletoduty。

ItisimpossiblethatIshan’tbeabletofindawaytoyourheart，thatIshan’tbeabletomakeyouobeyme。MyemotioninspeakingtoyouprovesthatIappreciateyoursuffering，thatI

sufferwithyou。ItisinthenameofmysinceritythatI

imploreyou。Youhaveadmittedit——thatyouhavenottherighttoexposeyourwifetosuchmiseries。Butitisnotonlyyourwifethatyoustrike；youmayattackinheryourownchildren。I

excludeyouforamomentfrommythought——youandher。ItisinthenameoftheseinnocentsthatIimploreyou；itisthefuture，itistheracethatIdefend。Listentome，listentome!OutofthetwentyhouseholdsofwhichIspoke，onlyfifteenhadchildren；thesefifteenhadtwenty—eight。Doyouknowhowmanyoutofthesetwenty—eightsurvived？Three，sir!Threeoutoftwenty—eight!Syphilisisaboveeverythingamurdererofchildren。HerodreignsinFrance，andoveralltheearth，andbeginseachyearhismassacreoftheinnocents；andifitbenotblasphemyagainstthesacrednessoflife，Isaythatthemosthappyarethosewhohavedisappeared。Visitourchildren’shospitals!Weknowtoowellthechildofsyphiliticparents；thetypeisclassical；thedoctorscanpickitoutanywhere。Thoselittleoldcreatureswhohavetheappearanceofhavingalreadylived，andwhohavekeptthestigmataofalloutinfirmities，ofallourdecay。Theyarethevictimsoffatherswhohavemarried，beingignorantofwhatyouknow——thingswhichIshouldliketogoandcryoutinthepublicplaces。"

Thedoctorpaused，andtheninasolemnvoicecontinued："Ihavetoldyouall，withoutexaggeration。Thinkitover。Considertheprosandcons；sumupthepossiblemisfortunesandthecertainmiseries。Butdisregardyourself，andconsiderthatthereareinonesideofthescalesthemisfortunesofothers，andintheotheryourown。Takecarethatyouarejust。"

Georgewasatlastovercome。"Verywell，"hesaid，"Igiveway。

Iwon’tgetmarried。Iwillinventsomeexcuse；Iwillgetadelayofsixmonths。Morethanthat，Icannotdo。"

Thedoctorexclaimed，"Ineedthreeyears——Ineedfouryears!"

"No，Doctor!"persistedGeorge。"Youcancuremeinlesstimethanthat。"

Theotheranswered，"No!No!No!"

Georgecaughthimbythehand，imploringly。"Yes!Scienceinallpowerful!"

"ScienceisnotGod，"wasthereply。"Therearenolongeranymiracles。"

"Ifonlyyouwantedtodoit!"criedtheyoungman，hysterically。

"Youarealearnedman；seek，invent，findsomething!Trysomenewplanwithme；givemedoublethedose，tentimesthedoes；

makemesuffer。Igivemyselfuptoyou；Iwillendureeverything——Iswearit!Thereoughttobesomewaytocuremewithinsixmonths。Listentome!ItellyouIcan’tanswerformyselfwiththatdelay。Come；itisinthenameofmywife，inthenameofmychildren，thatIimploreyou。Dosomethingforthem!"

Thedoctorhadreachedthelimitofhispatience。"Enough，sir!"

hecried。"Enough!"

Butnothingcouldstopthewretchedman。"Onmyknees!"hecried。"Iputmyselfonmykneesbeforeyou!Oh!Ifonlyyouwoulddoit!Iwouldblessyou；Iwouldadoreyou，asoneadoresagod!Allmygratitude，allmylife——halfmyfortune!

Formercy’ssake，Doctor，dosomething；inventsomething；makesomediscovery——havepity!"

Thedoctoransweredgravely，"Doyouwishmetodomoreforyouthanfortheothers？"

Georgeanswered，unblushingly，’answered，unblushingly，"Yes!"

Hewasbesidehimselfwithterroranddistress。

Theother’sreplywasdeliveredinasolemntone。"Understand，sir，foreveryoneofoutpatientswedoallthatwecan，whetheritbethegreatestpersonage，orthelastcomertoouthospitalclinic。Wehavenosecretsinreserveforthosewhoaremorefortunate，orlessfortunatethantheothers，andwhoareinahurrytobecured。"

Georgegazedathimforamomentinbewildermentanddespair，andthensuddenlybowedhishead。"Good—by，Doctor，"heanswered。

"Aurevoir，sir，"theothercorrected——withwhatprovedtobepropheticunderstanding。ForGeorgewasdestinedtoseehimagain——eventhoughhehadmadeuphismindtothecontrary!

CHAPTERIII

GeorgeDuponthadthemostimportantdecisionofhislifetomake；buttherewasneververymuchdoubtwhathisdecisionwouldbe。Onetheonehandwasthedefinitecertaintythatifhetookthedoctor’sadvice，hewouldwreckhisbusinessprospects，andperhapsalsolosethewomanheloved。Ontheotherhandwerevagueanduncertainpossibilitieswhichitwasdifficultforhimtomakerealtohimself。Itwasallverywelltowaitawhiletobecuredofthedreaddisease；buttowaitthreeorfouryears——

thatwassimplypreposterous!

Hedecidedtoconsultanotherphysician。Hewouldfindonethistimewhowouldnotbesoparticular，whowouldbewillingtotakesometroubletocurehimquickly。Hebegantonoticetheadvertisementswhichwerescatteredoverthepagesofthenewspapersheread。TherewereapparentlyplentyofdoctorsinPariswhocouldcurehim，whowerewillingtoguaranteetocurehim。Aftermuchhesitation，hepickedoutonewhoseadvertisementsoundedthemostconvincing。

Theofficewaslocatedinacheapquarter。Itwasadingyplace，notencumberedwithworksofart，butwithafewbookscoveredwithdust。Thedoctorhimselfwasstoutandgreasy，andherubbedhishandswithanticipationatthesightofsoprosperous—lookingapatient。Buthewasevidentlyamanofexperience，forheknewexactlywhatwasthematterwithGeorge，almostwithouttheformalityofanexamination。Yes，hecouldcurehim，quickly，hesaid。Therehadrecentlybeengreatdiscoveriesmade——newmethodswhichhadnotreachedthebulkoftheprofession。Helaughedattheideaofthreeorfouryears。

Thatwasthewaywiththosespecialists!Whenonegotfortyfrancsforaconsultation，naturally，onewasgladtodragoutthecase。Thereweretricksinthemedicaltrade，asinallothers。Adoctorhadtolive；whenhehadabigname，hehadtoliveexpensively。

Thenewphysicianwroteouttwoprescriptions，andpattedGeorgeontheshoulderashewentaway。Therewasnoneedforhimtoworry；hewouldsurelybewellinthreemonths。Ifhewouldputoffhismarriageforsixmonths，hewouldbedoingeverythingwithinreason。Andmeantime，therewasnoneedforhimtoworryhimself——thingswouldcomeoutallright。SoGeorgewentaway，feelingasifamountainhadbeenliftedfromhisshoulders。

HewenttoseeHenriettethatsameevening，togetthemattersettled。"Henriette，"hesaid，"Ihavetotellyousomethingveryimportant——somethingratherpainful。Ihopeyouwon’tletitdisturbyoutoomuch。"

Shewasgazingathiminalarm。"Whatisit？"

"Why，"hesaid，blushinginspiteofhimself，andregrettingthathehadbegunthemattersoprecipitately，"forsometimeI’venotbeenfeelingquitewell。I’vebeenhavingaslightcough。Haveyounoticedit？"

"Whyno!"exclaimedHenriette，anxiously。

"Well，todayIwenttoseeadoctor，andhesaysthatthereisapossibility——youunderstanditisnothingveryserious——butitmightbe——Imightpossiblyhavelungtrouble。"

"George!"criedthegirlinhorror。

Heputhishanduponhers。"Don’tbefrightened，"hesaid。"Itwillbeallright，onlyIhavetotakecareofmyself。"Howverydearofher，hethought——tobesomuchworried!

"George，yououghttogoawaytothecountry!"shecried。"Youhavebeenworkingtoohard。Ialwaystoldyouthatifyoushutyourselfupsomuch——"

"Iamgoingtotakecareofmyself，"hesaid。"Irealizethatitisnecessary。Ishallbeallright——thedoctorassuredmetherewasnodoubtofit，soyouarenottodistressyourself。Butmeantime，hereisthetrouble：Idon’tthinkitwouldberightformetomarryuntilIamperfectlywell。"

Henriettegaveanexclamationofdismay。

"Iamsureweshouldputitoff，"hewenton，"itwouldbeonlyfairtoyou。"

"But，George!"sheprotested。"Surelyitcan’tbethatserious!"

"Weoughttowait，"hesaid。"Yououghtnottotakethechanceofbeingmarriedtoaconsumptive。"

Theotherprotestedinconsternation。Hedidnotlooklikeaconsumptive；shedidnotbelievethatheWASaconsumptive。Shewaswillingtotakeherchances。Shelovedhim，andshewasnotafraid。ButGeorgeinsisted——hewassurethatheoughtnottomarryforsixmonths。

"Didthedoctoradvisethat？"askedHenriette。

"No，"hereplied，"butImadeupmymindaftertalkingtohimthatImustdothefairandhonorablething。Ibegyoutoforgiveme，andtobelievethatIknowbest。"

Georgestoodfirmlybythisposition，andsointheendshehadtogiveway。Itdidnotseemquitemodestinhertocontinuepersisting。

Georgevolunteeredtowritealettertoherfather；andhehopedthiswouldsettlethematterwithoutfurtherdiscussion。Butinthishewasdisappointed。TherehadtobealongcorrespondencewithlongargumentsandprotestationsfromHenriette’sfatherandfromhisownmother。Itseemedsuchasingularwhim。Everybodypersistedindiagnosinghissymptoms，inquestioninghimaboutwhatthedoctorhadsaid，whothedoctorwas，howhehadcometoconsulthim——allofwhich，ofcourse，wasveryembarrassingtoGeorge，whocouldnotseewhytheyhadtomakesuchafuss。Hetooktocultivatingaconsumptivelook，aswellashecouldimagineit；hetooktocoughingashewentaboutthehouse——anditwasallhecoulddotokeepfromlaughing，ashesawthelookofdismayonhispoormother’sface。Afterall，however，hetoldhimselfthathewasnotdeceivingher，forthediseasehehadwasquiteasseriousastuberculosis。

Itwasverypainfulandverytrying。Buttherewasnothingthatcouldbedoneaboutit；themarriagehadbeenputoffforsixmonths，andinthemeantimeheandHenriettehadtocontroltheirimpatienceandmakethebestoftheirsituation。Sixmonthswasalongtime；butwhatifithadbeenthreeorfouryears，astheotherdoctorhaddemanded？Thatwouldhavebeenaveritablesentenceofdeath。

George，aswehaveseen，wasconscientious，andregularandcarefulinhishabits。Hetookthemedicinewhichthenewdoctorprescribedforhim；anddaybydayhewatched，andtohisgreatreliefsawthetroublesomesymptomsgraduallydisappearing。Hebegantotakeheart，andtolookforwardtolifewithhisformerbuoyancy。Hehadhadabadscare，butnoweverythingwasgoingtobeallright。

Threeorfourmonthspassed，andthedoctortoldhimhewascured。Hereallywascured，sofarashecouldsee。Hewassorry，now，thathehadaskedforsolongadelayfromHenriette；

butthenewdatefortheweddinghadbeenannounced，anditwouldbeawkwardtochangeitagain。Georgetoldhimselfthathewasbeing"extracareful，"andhewasrepaidfortheinconveniencebythefeelingofvirtuederivedfromthedelay。Hewasrelievedthathedidnothavetocoughanymore，ortoinventanymoretalesofhisinterviewswiththeimaginarylung—specialist。

Sometimeshehadguiltyfeelingsbecauseofallthelyinghehadhadtodo；buthetoldhimselfthatitwasforHenriette’ssake。

Shelovedhimasmuchashelovedher。Shewouldhavesufferedneedlessagonieshadsheknownthetruth；shewouldneverhavegotoverit——soitwouldhavebeenacrimetotellher。

Hereallylovedherdevotedly，thoroughly。Fromthebeginninghehadthoughtasmuchofhermentalsufferingsashehadofanyphysicalharmthatthedreaddiseasemightdotohim。Howcouldhepossiblypersuadehimselftogiveherup，whenheknewthattheseparationwouldbreakherheartandruinherwholelife？

No；obviously，insuchadilemma，itwashisdutytousehisownbestjudgment，andgethimselfcuredasquicklyaspossible。

Afterthathewouldbetruetoher，hewouldtakenomorechancesofaloathsomedisease。

Thesecrethewashidingmadehimfeelhumble——madehimunusuallygentleinhisattitudetowardsthegirl。Hewasaperfectlover，andshewasravishedwithhappiness。Shethoughtthatallhissufferingswerebecauseofhisloveforher，andthedelaywhichhehadimposedoutofhisexcessofconscientiousness。Soshelovedhimmoreandmore，andneverwasthereahappierbridethanHenrietteLoches，whenatlastthegreatdayarrived。

TheywenttotheRiveriafortheirhoneymoon，andthenreturnedtoliveinthehomewhichhadbelongedtoGeorge’sfather。Theinvestmentinthenotary’spracticehadprovenagoodone，andsolifeheldouteverypromisefortheyoungcouple。Theyweredivinelyhappy。

Afterawhile，thebridecommunicatedtoherhusbandthetidingsthatshewasexpectingachild。ThenitseemedtoGeorgethatthecupofhisearthlyblisswasfull。Hisailmenthadslippedfarintothebackgroundofhisthoughts，likeanevildreamwhichhehadforgotten。Heputawaythemedicinesinthebottomofhistrunkanddismissedthewholematterfromhismind。Henriettewaswell——averypictureofhealth，aseveryoneagreed。Thedoctorhadneverseenamorepromisingyoungmother，hedeclared，andMadameDupont，theelder，bloomedwithfreshlifeandjoyassheattendedherdaughter—in—law。

Henriettewentforthesummertoherfather’splaceintheprovinces，whichsheandGeorgehadvisitedbeforetheirmarriage。Theydroveoutonedaytothefarmwheretheyhadstopped。Thefarmer’swifehadaweek—oldbaby，thesightofwhichmadeHenriette’sheartleapwithdelight。HewassuchaveryhealthybabythatGeorgeconceivedtheideathatthiswouldbethewomantonursehisownchild，incaseHenrietteherselfshouldnotbeabletodoit。

Theycamebacktothecity，andtherethebabywasborn。AsGeorgepacedthefloor，waitingforthenews，thememoryofhisevildreamscamebacktohim。Herememberedallthedreadfulmonstrositiesofwhichhehadread——infantsthatwerebornofsyphiliticparents。Hisheartstoodstillwhenthenursecameintotheroomtotellhimthetidings。

Butitwasallright；ofcourseitwasallright!Hehadbeenafool，hetoldhimself，ashestoodinthedarkenedroomandgazedatthewonderfullittlemiteoflifewhichwasthefruitofhislove。Itwasaperfectchild，thedoctorsaid——alittlesmall，tobesure，butthatwasadefectwhichwouldsoonberemedied。

Georgekneeledbythebedsideandkissedthehandofhiswife，andwentoutoftheroomfeelingasifhehadescapedfromatomb。

Allwentwell，andafteracoupleofweeksHenriettewasaboutthehouseagain，laughingalldayandsingingwithjoy。Butthebabydidnotgainquiteasrapidlyasthedoctorhadhoped，anditwasdecidedthatthecountryairwouldbebetterforher。SoGeorgeandhismotherpaidavisittothefarminthecountry，andarrangedthatthecountrywomanshouldputherownchildtonurseelsewhereandshouldbecomethefoster—motheroflittleGervaise。

Georgepaidagoodpricefortheservice，farmorethanwouldhavebeennecessary，forthesimplecountrywomanwasdelightedwiththeideaoftakingcareofthegrandchildofthedeputyofherdistrict。Georgecamehomeandtoldhiswifeaboutthisandhadamerrytimeashepicturedthewomanboastingaboutittothetravelerswhostoppedatherdoor。"Yes，ma’am，agreatpieceofluckI’vegot，ma’am。I’vegotthedaughterofthedaughterofourdeputy——atyourservicema’am。My!Butsheisasfatasoutlittlecalf——andsoclever!Sheunderstandseverything。Agreatpieceofluckforme，ma’am。She’sthedaughterofthedaughterofourdeputy!"Henriettewasvastlyentertained，discoveringinherhusbandanewtalent，thatofanactor。

AsforGeorge’smother，shewashardlytobepersuadedfromstayinginthecountrywiththechild。Shewenttwiceaweek，tomakesurethatallwentwell。Henrietteandshelivedwiththechild’spicturebeforethem；theyspenttheirtimesewingoncapsandunderwear——allcoveredwithlacesandfrillsandpinkandblueribbons。Everyday，whenGeorgecamehomefromhiswork，hefoundsomenewarticlecompleted，andwasravishedbythescentofsomenewkindofsachetpowder。Whataluckymanhewas!

YouwouldthinkhemusthavebeenthehappiestmaninthewholecityofParis。ButGeorge，alas，hadtopaythepenaltyforhisearlysins。Therewas，forinstance，thedeceptionhehadpracticeduponhisfriend，awaybackintheearlydays。Nowhehadfriendsofhisown，andhecouldnotkeepthesefriendsfromvisitinghim；andsohewasunquietwiththefearthatsomeoneofthemmightplayuponhimthesameviletrick。Eveninthemidstofhisradianthappiness，whenheknewthatHenriettewashanginguponhiseveryword，tremblingwithdelightwhensheheardhislatchkeyinthedoor——stillhecouldnotdriveawaythehorriblethoughtthatperhapsallthismightbedeception。

Therewashisfriend，Gustave，forexample。HehadbeenafriendofHenriette’sbeforehermarriage；hehadevenbeeninlovewithheratonetime。Andnowhecamesometimestothehouse——onceortwicewhenGeorgewasaway!Whatdidthatmean？Georgewondered。Hebroodedoveritallday，butdarednotdropanyhinttoHenriette。Buthetooktosettinglittletrapstocatchher；forinstance，hewouldcallheruponthetelephone，disguisinghisvoice。"Hello!Hello!Isthatyou，MadameDupont？"Andwhensheanswered，"ItisI，sir，"allunsuspecting，hewouldinquire，"IsGeorgethere？"

"No，sir，"shereplied。"Whoisthisspeaking？"

Heanswered，"ItisI，Gustave。Howareyouthismorning？"Hewantedtoseewhatshewouldanswer。Wouldsheperhapssay，"Verywell，Gustave。Howareyou？"——inatonewhichwouldbetraytoogreatintimacy!

ButHenriettewasasharpyoungperson。ThetonedidnotsoundlikeGustave’s。Sheaskedinbewilderment，"What？"andthenagain，"What？"

So，atlast，George，afraidthathistrickmightbesuspected，hadtoburstoutlaughing，andturnitintoajoke。Butwhenhecamehomeandteasedhiswifeaboutit，thelaughwasnotallonhisside。Henriettehadguessedtherealmeaningofhisjoke!

Shedidnotreallymind——shetookhisjealousyasasignoflove，andwaspleasedwithit。Itisnotuntilathirdpartycomeuponthescenethatjealousybeginstobeannoying。

SoshehadamerrytimeteasingGeorge。"Youareagreatfellow!

YouhavenoideahowwellIunderstandyou——andafteronlyayearofmarriage!"

"Youknowme？"saidthehusband，curiously。（Itisalwayssofascinatingwhenanybodythinkssheknowusbetterthanweknowourselves!）"Tellme，whatdoyouthinkaboutme？"

"Youarerestless，"saidHenriette。"Youaresuspicious。Youpassyourtimeputtingfliesinyourmilk，andinventingwiseschemestogetthemout。"

"Oh，youthinkthat，doyou？"saidGeorge，pleasedtobetalkedabout。

"Iamnotannoyed，"sheanswered。"Youhavealwaysbeenthatway——andIknowthatit’sbecauseatbottomyouaretimidanddisposedtosuffer。Andthen，too，perhapsyouhavereasonsfornothavingconfidenceinawife’sintimatefriends——lady—killerthatyouare!"

Georgefoundthisratherembarrassing；buthedarednotshowit，sohelaughedgayly。"Idon’tknowwhatyoumean，"hesaid——

"uponmywordIdon’t。ButitisatrickIwouldnotadviseeverybodytotry。"

Therewereotherembarrassingmoments，causedbyGeorge’shavingthingstoconceal。Therewas，forinstance，thematterofthesixmonths’delayinthemarriage——aboutwhichHenriettewouldneverstoptalking。Shebegrudgedthetime，becauseshehadgottheideathatlittleGervaisewassixmonthsyoungerthansheotherwisewouldhavebeen。"Thatshowsyourtimidityagain，"shewouldsay。"Theideaofyourhavingimaginedyourselfaconsumptive!"

PoorGeorgehadtodefendhimself。"Ididn’ttellyouhalfthetruth，becauseIwasafraidofupsettingyou。ItseemedIhadthebeginningofchronicbronchitis。IfeltitquitekeenlywheneverItookabreath，adeepbreath——look，likethis。Yes——I

felt——hereandthere，oneachsideofthechest，aheaviness——adifficulty——"

"Theideaoftakingsixmonthstocureyouofathinglikethat!"

exclaimedHenriette。"Andmakingourbabysixmonthsyoungerthansheoughttobe!"

"But，"laughedGeorge，"thatmeansthatweshallhavehersomuchthelonger!Shewillgetmarriedsixmonthslater!"

"Oh，dearme，"respondedtheother，"letusnottalkaboutsuchthings!Iamalreadyworried，thinkingshewillgetmarriedsomeday。"

"Formypart，"saidGeorge，"IseemyselfmountingwithheronmyarmthestaircaseoftheMadeleine。"

"WhytheMadeleine？"exclaimedhiswife。"Suchaverymagnificentchurch!"

"Idon’tknow——Iseeherunderherwhiteveil，andmyselfalldressedup，andwithanorder。"

"Withanorder!"laughedHenriette。"Whatdoyouexpecttodotowinanorder？"

"Idon’tknowthat——butIseemyselfwithit。Explainitasyouwill，Iseemyselfwithanorder。Iseeitall，exactlyasifI

werethere——theSwissguardwithhiswhitestockingsandthehalbard，andthelittlemilliner’sassistantsandthescullionlinedupstaring。"

"Itisfaroff——allthat，"saidHenriette。"Idon’tliketotalkofit。Ipreferherasababy。Iwanthertogrowup——butthenIchangemymindandthinkIdon’t。Iknowyourmotherdoesn’t。

Doyouknow，Idon’tbelievesheeverthinksaboutanythingbutherlittleGervaise。"

"Ibelieveyou，"saidthefather。"Thechildcancertainlyboastofhavingagrandmotherwholovesher。"

"Also，Iadoreyourmother，"declaredHenriette。"Shemakesmeforgetmymisfortuneinnothavingmyownmother。Sheissogood!"

"Wearealllikethatinourfamily，"putinGeorge。

"Really，"laughedthewife。"Well，anyhow——thelasttimethatwewentdowninthecountrywithher——youhadgoneout，Idon’tknowwhereyouhadgone——"

"Toseethesixteenth—centurychest，"suggestedtheother。

"Oh，yes，"laughedHenriette；"yourfamouschest!"（Youmustexcusethislittlefamilychatteroftheirs——theyweresomuchinlovewitheachother!）

"Don’tlet’stalkaboutthat，"objectedGeorge。"Youweresaying——？"

"Youwerenotthere。Thenursewasoutatmass，Ithink——"

"Oratthewinemerchant’s!Goon，goon。"

"Well，Iwasinthelittleroom，andmotherdearthoughtshewasallalonewithGervaise。Iwaslistening；shewastalkingtothebaby——allsortsofnonsense，prettylittlewords——stupid，ifyoulike，buttender。Iwantedtolaugh，andatthesametimeI

wantedtoweep。"

"Perhapsshecalledher’mydearlittleSavior’？"

"Exactly!Didyouhearher？"

"No——butthatiswhatsheusedtocallmewhenIwaslittle。"

"Itwasthatdayshesworethatthelittleonehadrecognizedher，andlaughed!"

"Oh，yes!"

"Andthenanothertime，whenIwentintoherroom——mother’sroom——shedidn’thearmebecausethedoorwasopen，butIsawher。Shewasinecstasybeforethelittlebootswhichthebabyworeatbaptism——youknow？"

"Yes，yes。"

"Listen，then。Shehadtakenthemandshewasembracingthem!"

"Andwhatdidyousaythen？"

"Nothing；Istoleoutverysoftly，andIsentacrossthethresholdagreatkisstothedeargrandmother!"

Henriettesatforamomentinthought。"Itdidn’ttakeherverylong，"sheremarked，"todaywhenshegottheletterfromthenurse。Iimagineshecaughttheeight—fifty—ninetrain!"

"Anyyet，"laughedGeorge，"itwasreallynothingatall。"

"Ohno，"saidhiswife。"Yetafterall，perhapsshewasright——

andperhapsIoughttohavegonewithher。"

"Howcharmingyouare，mypoorHenriette!Youbelieveeverythingyouaretold。I，formypart，divinedrightawaythetruth。Thenursewassimplyplayingagameonus；shewantedaraise。Willyoubet？Come，I’llbetyousomething。Whatwouldyouliketobet？Youdon’twantto？Come，I’llbetyoualovelynecklace——

youknow，withabigpearl。"

"No，"saidHenriette，whohadsuddenlylosthermoodofgayety。

"Ishouldbetoomuchafraidofwinning。"

"Stop!"laughedherhusband。"Don’tyoubelieveIloveherasmuchasyouloveher——mylittleduck？Doyouknowhowoldsheis？ImeanherEXACTage？"

Henriettesatknittingherbrows，tryingtofigure。

"Ah!"heexploded。"Youseeyoudon’tknow!Sheisninety—onedaysandeighthours!Ha，ha!Imaginewhenshewillbeabletowalkallalone。Thenwewilltakeherbackwithus；wemustwaitatleastsixmonths。"Then，toolate，poorGeorgerealizedthathehadspokenthefatalphraseagain。

"Ifonlyyouhadn’tputoffourmarriage，shewouldbeabletowalknow，"saidHenriette。

Herosesuddenly。"Come，"hesaid，"didn’tyousayyouhadtodressandpaysomecalls？"

Henriettelaughed，buttookthehint。

"Runalong，littlewife，"hesaid。"Ihavealotofworktodointhemeantime。Youwon’tbedown—stairsbeforeIshallhavemynoseburiedinmypapers。Bye—bye。"

"Bye—bye，"saidHenriette。Buttheypausedtoexchangeadozenorsokissesbeforeshewentawaytodress。

ThenGeorgelightedacigaretteandstretchedhimselfoutinthebigarmchair。Heseemedrestless；heseemedtobedisturbedaboutsomething。Coulditbethathehadnotbeensomuchateaseashehadpretendedtobe，sincetheletterhadcomefromthebaby’snurse？MadameDuponthadgonebytheearliesttrainthatmorning。Shehadpromisedtotelegraphatonce——butshehadnotdoneso，andnowitwaslateafternoon。

Georgegotupandwanderedabout。Helookedathimselfintheglassforamoment；thenhewentbacktothechairandpulledupanothertoputhisgeetupon。Hepuffedawayathiscigaretteuntilhewascalmer。Butthensuddenlyheheardtherustleofadressbehindhim，andglancedabout，andstartedupwithanexclamation，"Mother!"

MadameDupontstoodinthedoorway。Shedidnotspeak。HerveilwasthrownbackandGeorgenotedinstantlythelookofagitationuponhercountenance。

"What’sthematter？"hecried。"Wedidn’tgetanytelegramfromyou；wewerenotexpectingyoutilltomorrow。"

Stillhismotherdidnotspeak。

"Henriettewasjustgoingout，"heexclaimednervously；"Ihadbettercallher。"

"No!"saidhismotherquickly。Hervoicewaslowandtrembling。

"IdidnotwantHenriettetobeherewhenIarrived。"

"Butwhat’sthematter？"criedGeorge。

Againtherewasasilencebeforethereplycame。Hereadsomethingterribleinthemother’smanner，andhefoundhimselftremblingviolently。

"Ihavebroughtbackthechildandthenurse，"saidMadameDupont。

"What!Isthelittleonesick？"

"Yes。"

"What’sthematterwithher？"

"Nothingdangerous——forthemoment，atleast。"

"Wemustsendandgetthedoctor!"criedGeorge。

"Ihavejustcomefromthedoctor’s，"wasthereply。"Hesaiditwasnecessarytotakeoutchildfromthenurseandbringheruponthebottle。"

Againtherewasapause。Georgecouldhardlybringhimselftoaskthenextquestion。Tryashewould，hecouldnotkeephisvoicefromweakening。"Well，now，whatishertrouble？"

Themotherdidnotanswer。Shestoodstaringbeforeher。Atlastshesaid，faintly，"Idon’tknow。"

"Youdidn’task？"

"Iasked。ButitwasnottoourowndoctorthatIwent。"

"Ah!"whisperedGeorge。Fornearlyaminuteneitheroneofthemspoke。"Why？"heinquiredatlast。

"Because——he——thenurse’sdoctor——hadfrightenedmeso——"

"Truly？"

"Yes。Itisadisease——"againshestopped。

Georgecried，inavoiceofagony，"andthen？"

"ThenIaskedhimifthematterwassogravethatIcouldnotbesatisfiedwithourordinarydoctor。"

"Andwhatdidheanswer？"

"Hesaidthatifwehadthemeansitwouldreallybebettertoconsultaspecialist。"

Georgelookedathismotheragain。Hewasabletodoit，becauseshewasnotlookingathim。Heclenchedhishandsandgothimselftogether。"And——wheredidhesendyou？"

Hismotherfumbledinherhandbaganddrewoutavisitingcard。

"Here，"shesaid。

AndGeorgelookedatthecard。Itwasallhecoulddotokeephimselffromtottering。Itwasthecardofthedoctorwhomhehadfirstconsultedabouthistrouble!Thespecialistinvenerealdiseases!

CHAPTERIV

ItwasallGeorgecoulddotocontrolhisvoice。"You——youwenttoseehim？"hestammered。

"Yes，"saidhismother。"Youknowhim？"

"No，no，"heanswered。"Or——thatis——Ihavemethim，Ithink。I

don’tknow。"Andthentohimself，"MyGod!"

Therewasasilence。"Heiscomingtotalktoyou，"saidthemother，atlast。

Georgewashardlyabletospeak。"Thenheisverymuchdisturbed？"

"No，buthewantstotalktoyou。"

"Tome？"

"Yes。Whenthedoctorsawthenurse，hesaid，’Madame，itisimpossibleformetocontinuetoattendthischildunlessIhavehadthisverydayaconversationwitthefather。’SoIsaid’Verywell，’andhesaidhewouldcomeatonce。"

Georgeturnedaway，andputhishandstohisforehead。"Mypoorlittledaughter!"hewhisperedtohimself。